Pride and Prejudice — Chapter Sixteen (Abridged)

The Bennet girls and Mr. Collins went to Meryton to spend the evening with their aunt, Mrs. Phillips. When they arrived, they were pleased to hear that Mr. Wickham had accepted the invitation and was already there.

Mr. Collins spent much of the evening admiring Mrs. Phillips’s rooms and comparing them to rooms at Rosings, Lady Catherine’s grand home. Mrs. Phillips was impressed by his talk of Lady Catherine’s wealth and importance.

When the officers entered, Elizabeth noticed Mr. Wickham immediately. He was handsome, polite, and charming. He sat near Elizabeth and began speaking with her in such an agreeable way that even ordinary topics seemed interesting.

While Lydia became busy with lottery tickets, Wickham had a chance to speak privately with Elizabeth. He asked about Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth admitted that she found Darcy proud and disagreeable.

Wickham then told Elizabeth that he had known Darcy’s family since childhood. He said the late Mr. Darcy, Darcy’s father, had been very kind to him and had intended to provide him with a church position. According to Wickham, Darcy had refused to give him the position after his father died.

Elizabeth was shocked by Wickham’s story. She believed his calm and gentlemanlike manner, and her dislike of Darcy grew stronger. Wickham said he did not wish to expose Darcy because he still respected Darcy’s father.

Wickham also told Elizabeth that Darcy was proud, unforgiving, and jealous. He said Darcy could appear generous and honorable when it suited him, especially among rich and important people, but that he had treated Wickham cruelly.

Elizabeth asked about Miss Darcy. Wickham said she had once been affectionate as a child, but had become proud like her brother. He also explained that Lady Catherine de Bourgh was Darcy’s aunt and that people expected Darcy to marry Miss de Bourgh one day.

Elizabeth thought of Miss Bingley and smiled, realizing that Miss Bingley’s hopes for Darcy might be useless if he was already expected to marry someone else.

The evening ended pleasantly. Wickham’s manners pleased everyone, and Elizabeth left with her thoughts full of him and his story. On the way home, Lydia talked constantly, and Mr. Collins spoke endlessly about the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips.