 Wickham. - The possibility of his having really endured such
unkindness, was enough to interest all her tender feelings; and nothing
therefore remained to be done, but to think well of them both, to defend the
conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or mistake, whatever
could not be otherwise explained.
    »They have both,« said she, »been deceived, I dare say, in some way or
other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps
misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to
conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without
actual blame on either side.«
    »Very true, indeed; - and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say in
behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the
business? - Do clear them too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of somebody.«
    »Laugh as much as you chuse, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. My
dearest Lizzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr. Darcy,
to be treating his father's favourite in such a manner, - one, whom his father
had promised to provide for. - It is impossible. No man of common humanity, no
man who had any value for his character, could be capable of it. Can his most
intimate friends be so excessively deceived in him? oh! no.«
    »I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on, than that
Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me last night;
names, facts, every thing mentioned without ceremony. - If it be not so, let Mr.
Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks.«
    »It is difficult indeed - it is distressing. - One does not know what to
think.«
    »I beg your pardon; - one knows exactly what to think.«
    But Jane could think with certainty on only one point, - that Mr. Bingley,
if he had been imposed on, would have much to suffer when the affair became
public.
    The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery where this
conversation passed, by the arrival of some of the very persons of whom they had
been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal
invitation for the long expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the
following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again,
