第84章[第3页/共4页]

“But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?”“No―I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did.”

“I never thought Mr.Darcy so deficient in the appearance of it as you used to do.”

It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted from Jane.

“But you will know it,when I have told you what happened the very next day.”

“Blame you!Oh,no.”

“I do not know when I have been more shocked,”said she.“Wickham so very bad! It is almost past belief.And poor Mr. Darcy!Dear Lizzy,only consider what he must have suffered.Such a disappointment! and with the knowledge of your ill opinion, too!and having to relate such a thing of his sister!It is really too distressing.I am sure you must feel it so.”

She then spoke of the letter,repeating the whole of its contents as far as they concerned George Wickham.What a stroke was this for poor Jane,who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind,as was here collected in one individual.Nor was Darcy's vindication, though grateful to her feelings, capable of consoling her for such discovery.Most earnestly did she labour to prove the probability of error,and seek to clear the one without involving the other.