Elizabeth woke up the next morning still thinking about what had happened the night before. She could not think about anything else, so after breakfast she decided to go for a walk. She started toward her favorite path, but then she remembered that Mr. Darcy sometimes walked there too. She did not want to see him, so she turned onto a quieter road instead.
She had been staying in Kent for five weeks, and the trees around her were now bright green. As she walked near the edge of the park, she saw a man moving among the trees. She was afraid it was Mr. Darcy, and she began to turn away. But he called her name, so she stopped. It really was Mr. Darcy. He walked up to her, held out a letter, and said, "I have been waiting here, hoping to meet you. Please do me the honor of reading this." Then he bowed and walked away quickly, without waiting for an answer.
Elizabeth was very curious, so she opened the letter right away. It was long, two full pages written in small, neat handwriting. It was dated from Rosings, at eight o'clock that morning. She began to read as she continued her walk.
"Please do not worry," the letter began. "I am not writing to ask for your love again. I only want to explain myself, because last night you accused me of two things: separating Mr. Bingley from your sister Jane, and treating Mr. Wickham unfairly. Let me explain both.
When I was in Hertfordshire, I noticed that Bingley liked your sister very much. But when I watched Jane carefully, I did not see the same strong feelings in her. She was always friendly and cheerful, but her heart seemed calm, not in love. Because of this, and because of some other reasons connected with your family, I convinced Bingley that marrying her would not make him happy. I even hid from him the fact that Jane was in London for several weeks. I know now that this was not completely honest of me, and I am sorry if I caused your sister pain. But I truly believed I was helping my friend.
Now let me tell you the truth about Mr. Wickham. His father worked for my family for many years, and my own father loved Wickham like a son. My father paid for his education and wanted to give him a position in the church. But Wickham did not want to become a clergyman. Instead, he asked for money, and I gave him three thousand pounds. Within a few years, he had spent it all. He came back and asked me for the church position after all, but I refused, because by then I did not trust his character.
There is one more thing I must tell you, even though it is difficult. My younger sister, Georgiana, is only sixteen. Last summer, Mr. Wickham convinced her that he loved her, and he persuaded her to run away with him in secret. Luckily, I arrived just in time and stopped it. He wanted her money, not her love. I am telling you this only so that you understand who he really is.
I hope you will believe me. If you do not trust my own word, you may ask my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who knows everything I have told you. God bless you.
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Elizabeth finished the letter with her heart racing. Everything she had believed about Mr. Darcy, and about Mr. Wickham, suddenly felt uncertain.
Vocabulary List
- curious — wanting to know or learn something.
- separate (verb) — to keep two people or things apart.
- accuse — to say that someone has done something wrong.
- convince — to make someone believe something or agree to do something.
- honest — telling the truth; not hiding or lying about something.
- hide — to keep something secret or out of sight.
- trust — to believe that someone is honest and reliable.
- refuse — to say no to something that is asked or offered.
- character — the qualities that make up a person's true nature.
- persuade — to convince someone to do something through argument or reasoning.
- secret — something kept hidden from other people.
- position — a job or role within an organization.
- calm — not showing strong feelings or excitement.
- connected (with) — related or linked to something else.
- uncertain — not sure or not clearly known.
True or False
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Elizabeth changes her walking route on purpose to avoid meeting Mr. Darcy.
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Mr. Darcy waits with Elizabeth while she reads the letter.
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In the letter, Darcy admits that he hid the fact that Jane was in London.
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Darcy says he gave Wickham a church position because he trusted him completely.
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Wickham tried to persuade Georgiana to run away with him because he loved her, not her money.
Fill in the Blanks
- Elizabeth sees Mr. Darcy walking near the trees at the edge of the .
- The letter was dated from , at eight o'clock in the morning.
- Darcy tells Elizabeth she may ask his cousin, Colonel , to confirm his story.
- Instead of a church position, Darcy gave Mr. Wickham pounds.
- Darcy's younger sister, whom Wickham tried to persuade into eloping, is named .