Pagina 468 van 817

She then spoke of the letter, repeating the whole of its contents

as far as they concerned George Wickham. What a stroke was this

for poor Jane, who would willingly have gone through the world

without believing that so much wickedness existed in the whole

race of mankind as was here collected in one individual! Nor was

Darcy's vindication, though grateful to her feelings, capable of

consoling her for such discovery. Most earnestly did she labour

to prove the probability of error, and seek to clear one, without

involving the other.

"This will not do," said Elizabeth; "you never will be able to

make both of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you

must be satisfied with only one. There is but such a quantity of

merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man; and

of late it has been shifting about pretty much. For my part, I am

inclined to believe it all Mr. Darcy's, but you shall do as you

choose."