Pride and Prejudice — Chapter Fifty-Two

Gracechurch Street, Sept. 6.

My Dear Niece, — I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning to answering it. I must confess myself surprised by your application; I did not expect it from you. Your uncle is as much surprised as I am — and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned would have allowed him to act as he has done. But if you are really innocent and ignorant, I must be more explicit. On the very day of my coming home from Longbourn, your uncle had a most unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and was shut up with him several hours. He came to tell Mr. Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, and that he had seen and talked with them both; Wickham repeatedly, Lydia once. From what I can collect, he left Derbyshire only one day after ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for them. The motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to himself that Wickham's worthlessness had not been so well known as to make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide in him. He generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride, and confessed that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private actions open to the world. He called it, therefore, his duty to step forward, and endeavour to remedy an evil which had been brought on by himself.

There is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was formerly governess to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed for some cause of disapprobation. She was intimately acquainted with Wickham, and Mr. Darcy went to her for information as soon as he reached town, though it took her some days to give up what she knew. At length she gave him the address. He saw Wickham, and afterwards insisted on seeing Lydia. His first object was to persuade her to leave her present disgraceful situation and return to her friends, offering his assistance as far as it would go. But he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was; she cared for none of her friends, wanted no help of his, and would not hear of leaving Wickham, being sure they would marry sometime or other.

Since her feelings were so fixed, Mr. Darcy thought it best to secure a marriage as quickly as possible, for he soon learned, in his very first conversation with Wickham, that marriage had never been Wickham's intention at all. Wickham confessed he had been obliged to leave the regiment on account of pressing debts, and blamed all the ill consequences of Lydia's flight on her own folly. He meant to resign his commission at once, without any real plan for the future. Mr. Darcy asked him why he had not married your sister immediately, since even Mr. Bennet could have done something for him — but Wickham still hoped to make his fortune through marriage elsewhere. Under such circumstances, however, he could not resist the temptation of immediate relief.

They met several times to negotiate, Wickham wanting far more than he could reasonably get, until at last he was brought to be reasonable. Everything being settled between them, Mr. Darcy then went to your uncle, and they talked together at length on several days until it was all arranged, and the express was sent to Longbourn. I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of Mr. Darcy's character — nothing was to be done that he did not do himself, though your uncle would gladly have settled the whole matter and borne the expense. They argued about it for a long time, but at last your uncle was forced to give way, and could only have the credit of it, which went sorely against the grain — though I believe your letter this morning gave him great pleasure, since it will finally give the praise where it is due.

But, Lizzy, this must go no further than yourself, or Jane at most. His debts are to be paid, amounting to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own is settled upon Lydia, and his commission is purchased. Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and attended the wedding, as Lydia told you. He dined with us the next day. Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying how much I like him? His behaviour to us has, in every respect, been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. I thought him very sly — he hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the fashion. Pray forgive me if I have been presuming.

Your's, very sincerely, M. Gardiner.