Pride and Prejudice — Chapter Fifty-Eight
Abridged for Intermediate-High Learners

A few days after Lady Catherine's visit, Mr. Bingley brought Mr. Darcy to call on the Bennets. Bingley wanted to be alone with Jane, so he suggested a walk. It was agreed. Mrs. Bennet never walked, and Mary was busy, so the other five went out.

Bingley and Jane soon fell behind. Elizabeth, Kitty, and Darcy walked ahead, Kitty too afraid of Darcy to speak, while Elizabeth was quietly forming a brave plan.

They walked toward the Lucases' house, where Kitty wanted to visit Maria. When Kitty went inside, Elizabeth boldly walked on alone with Darcy.

"Mr. Darcy," she said, "I must thank you for your kindness to my poor sister Lydia. Ever since I learned what you did, I have wanted to tell you how grateful I am."

Darcy was surprised and uncomfortable. "I am sorry you ever learned of it. I did not think your aunt would tell you."

"Do not blame my aunt," said Elizabeth. "Lydia's careless words first told me you had helped her. Let me thank you again, in the name of all my family."

"If you will thank me," he replied, "thank me for yourself alone. My wish to make you happy made me do it. Your family owes me nothing. I thought only of you."

"You are too generous to play games with me," Darcy said. "If your feelings are still the same as last April, tell me now. My feelings have not changed. But one word from you will silence me forever."

Feeling nervous, Elizabeth answered as clearly as she could. Her feelings had changed so completely that she received his words with gratitude and happiness. Darcy had never felt such joy. He spoke as warmly as a man deeply in love can speak, and they walked on without noticing where they were going.

Darcy then explained why he had dared to hope again. Lady Catherine had visited him in London and reported her quarrel with Elizabeth, hoping it would end the matter, but it had the opposite effect.

"It taught me to hope," Darcy said. "I knew that if you had truly and finally decided against me, you would have told my aunt so honestly."

They talked about his first proposal at Hunsford and his letter. Elizabeth explained how slowly the letter had changed her opinion of him, and how gradually her old prejudices had been removed. Darcy hoped she had destroyed the letter, and she promised to burn it.

"When I wrote that letter," he said, "I thought I was calm. But now I know it was written in great pain and anger."

"It began in bitterness," said Elizabeth, "but it ended in kindness. The writer and the receiver are now so different that every unpleasant circumstance ought to be forgotten. Think only of the past when remembering it gives you pleasure."

Darcy then spoke honestly about himself. He had been selfish all his life. As a child he was taught what was right, but his parents spoiled him and let him be proud. "But for you, dearest Elizabeth," he said, "what do I not owe you? You taught me a hard but valuable lesson. By you, I was properly humbled."

Elizabeth asked what he had thought when they met at Pemberley. He said his only wish then had been to show her, by every kindness, that her criticisms had been heard, and to win her forgiveness.

"Before I went to London," he said, "I confessed to Bingley that I had been wrong to separate him from your sister. I told him Jane truly loved him, and he forgave me."

Elizabeth smiled at how easily Darcy guided his friend, and they reached home.