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"About a month," said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the

subject drop, added, "he is a man of very large property in

Derbyshire, I understand."

"Yes," replied Wickham; "his estate there is a noble one. A clear

ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more

capable of giving you certain information on that head than

myself--for I have been connected with his family, in a

particular manner, from my infancy."

Elizabeth could not but look surprised.

"You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion,

after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our

meeting yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"

"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth, warmly. "I have

spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very

disagreeable."