Страница 432 из 817

She perfectly remembered everything that had passed in

conversation between Wickham and herself in their first evening

at Mr. Philips's. Many of his expressions were still fresh in her

memory. She was now struck with the impropriety of such

communications to a stranger, and wondered it had escaped her

before. She saw the indelicacy of putting himself forward as he

had done, and the inconsistency of his professions with his

conduct. She remembered that he had boasted of having no fear of

seeing Mr. Darcy--that Mr. Darcy might leave the country, but

that he should stand his ground; yet he had avoided the

Netherfield ball the very next week. She remembered, also, that

till the Netherfield family had quitted the country, he had told

his story to no one but herself; but that after their removal, it

had been everywhere discussed; that he had then no reserves, no

scruples in sinking Mr.