. - »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 had 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 every thing
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 that 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 deserved to lose Mr.
Darcy's regard.«
    »Mr. Bingley does not know Mr. Wickham himself?«
    »No; he never saw him till the other morning at Meryton.«
    »This account then is what he has received from Mr. Darcy. I am perfectly
satisfied. But what does he say of the living?«
    »He does not exactly recollect the circumstances, though he has heard them
from Mr. Darcy more than once, but he believes that it was left to him
conditionally only.«
    »I have not a doubt of Mr. Bingley's sincerity,« said Elizabeth warmly; »but
you must excuse my not being convinced by assurances only. Mr. Bingley's defence
of his friend was a very able one I dare say, but since he is unacquainted with
several parts of the story, and has learnt the rest from that friend himself, I
shall
