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money freely； to display hospitality； to assist his tenants； and
relieve the poor。 Family pride； andfilial 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。’
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‘What sort of a 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； where a lady lives with her； and superintends her
education。’
After many pauses and many trials of other subjects； Elizabeth
could not help reverting once more to the first； and saying；
‘I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr。 Bingley！ How can Mr。
Bingley； who seems good humour itself； and is； I really believe；
truly amiable； be in friendship with such a man？ How can they suit
each other？—Do you know Mr。 Bingley？’
‘Not at all。’
‘He is a sweet tempered； amiable； charming man。 He cannot
know what Mr。 Darcy is。’
‘Probably not；—but Mr。 Darcy can please where he chuses。 He
does not want abilities。 He can be a conversible companion if he
thinks it worth his while。 Among those who are at all his equals in
consequence； he is a very different man from what he is to the less
prosperous。 His pride never deserts him； but with the rich； he is
liberal…minded； just； sincere； rational； honourable； and perhaps
agreeable；—allowing something for fortune and figure。’
The whist party soon afterwards breaking up； the players
gathered round the other table； and Mr。 Collins took his station
between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs。 Philips。—The usual
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inquiries as to his success were made by the latter。 It had not been
very great； he had lost every point； but when Mrs。 Philips began to
express her concern thereupon； he assured her with much earnest
gravity that it was not of the least importance； that he considered
the money as a mere trifle； and begged she would not make herself
uneasy。
‘I know very well； madam；’ said he； ‘that when persons sit down
to a card table； they must take their chance of these things；—and
happily I am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings
any object。 There are undoubtedly many who could not say the
same； but thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh； I am removed far
beyond the necessity of regarding little matters。’
Mr。 Wickham’s attention was caught； and after observing Mr。
Collins for a few moments； he asked Elizabeth in a low voice
whether her relation were very intimately acquainted with the
family of de Bourgh。
‘Lady Catherine de Bourgh；’ she replied； ‘has very lately given
him a living。 I hardly know how Mr。 Collins was first introduced to
her notice； but he certainly has not known her long。’
‘You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady
Anne Darcy were sisters； consequently that she is aunt to the
present Mr。 Darcy。’
‘No； indeed； I did not。—I knew nothing at all of Lady
Catherine’s connections。 I never heard of her existence till the day
before yesterday。’
‘Her daughter； Miss de Bourgh； will have a very large fortune；
and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two
estates。’
This information made Elizabeth smile； as she thought of poor
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Miss Bingley。 Vain indeed must be all her attentions； vain and
useless her affection for his sister and her praise of himself； if he
were already self…destined to another。
‘Mr。 Collins；’ said she； ‘speaks highly both of Lady Catherine
and her daughter； but from some particulars that he has related of
her ladyship； I suspect his gratitude misleads him； and that in spite
of her being his patroness； she is an arrogant； conceited woman。’
‘I believe her to be both in a great degree；’ replied Wickham； ‘I
have not seen her for many years； but I very well remember that I
never liked her； and that her manners were dictatorial and
insolent。 She has the reputation of being remarkably sensible and
clever： but I rather believe she derives part of her abilities from her
rank and fortune； part from her authoritative manner； and the rest
from the pride of her nephew； who chuses that every one
connected with him should have an understanding of the first
class。’
Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it；
and they continued talking together with mutual satisfaction till
supper put an end to cards； and gave the rest of the ladies their
share of Mr。 Wickham’s attentions。 There could be no conversation
in the noise of Mrs。 Philips’s supper party； but his manners
recommended him to every body。 Whatever he said； was said well；
and whatever he did； done gracefully。 Elizabeth went away with
her head full of him。 She could think of nothing but of Mr。
Wickham； and of what he had told her； all the way home； but there
was not