Chapter 16 83
Darcy often acknowledged himself to be under the greatest obligations to my father ' s active superintendence , and when , immediately before my father ' s death , Mr . Darcy gave him a voluntary promise of providing for me , I am convinced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude to him , as of his affection to myself ."
" How strange !" cried Elizabeth . " How abominable ! I wonder that the very pride of this Mr . Darcy has not made him just to you ! If from no better motive , that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest--for dishonesty I must call it ."
" It is wonderful ," replied Wickham , " for almost all his actions may be traced to pride ; and pride had often been his best friend . It has connected him nearer with virtue than with any other feeling . But we are none of us consistent , and in his behaviour to me there were stronger impulses even than pride ."
" Can such abominable pride as his have ever done him good ?"
" Yes . It has often led him to be liberal and generous , to give his money freely , to display hospitality , to assist his tenants , and relieve the poor . Family pride , and filial pride--for he is very proud of what his father was--have done this . Not to appear to disgrace his family , to degenerate from the popular qualities , or lose the influence of the Pemberley House , is a powerful motive . He has also brotherly pride , which , with some brotherly affection , makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister , and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers ."
" What sort of girl is Miss Darcy ?"
He shook his head . " I wish I could call her amiable . It gives me pain to speak ill of a Darcy . But she is too much like her brother--very , very proud . As a child , she was affectionate and pleasing , and extremely fond of me ; and I have devoted hours and hours to her amusement . But she is nothing to me now . She is a handsome girl , about fifteen or sixteen , and , I understand , highly accomplished . Since her father ' s death , her home has been London ,