Chapter 18 97
how he could presume to do it . I pity you , Miss Eliza , for this discovery of your favourite ' s guilt ; but really , considering his descent , one could not expect much better ."
" His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same ," said Elizabeth angrily ; " for I have heard you accuse him of nothing worse than of being the son of Mr . Darcy ' s steward , and of that , I can assure you , he informed me himself ."
" I beg your pardon ," replied Miss Bingley , turning away with a sneer . " Excuse my interference--it was kindly meant ."
" Insolent girl !" said Elizabeth to herself . " You are much mistaken if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as this . I see nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the malice of Mr . Darcy ." She then sought her eldest sister , who has undertaken to make inquiries on the same subject of Bingley . Jane met her with a smile of such sweet complacency , a glow of such happy expression , as sufficiently marked how well she was satisfied with the occurrences of the evening . Elizabeth instantly read her feelings , and at that moment solicitude for Wickham , resentment against his enemies , and everything else , gave way before the hope of Jane ' s being in the fairest way for happiness .
" I want to know ," said she , with a countenance no less smiling than her sister ' s , " what you have learnt about Mr . Wickham . But perhaps you have been too pleasantly engaged to think of any third person ; in which case you may be sure of my pardon ."
" No ," replied Jane , " I have not forgotten him ; but I have nothing satisfactory to tell you . Mr . Bingley does not know the whole of his history , and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have principally offended Mr . Darcy ; but he will vouch for the good conduct , the probity , and honour of his friend , and is perfectly convinced that Mr . Wickham has deserved much less attention from Mr . Darcy than he has received ; and I am sorry to say by his account as well as his sister ' s , Mr . Wickham is by no means a respectable young man . I am afraid he has been very imprudent , and has