Chapter 17

           ElizabethrelatedtoJanethenextdaywhathadpassedbetweenMr.Wickhamandherself. Janelistenedwithastonishmentandconcern;sheknewnothowtobelievethatMr.DarcycouldbesounworthyofMr.Bingley’sregard; andyet,itwasnotinhernaturetoquestiontheveracityofayoungmanofsuchamiableappearanceasWickham. Thepossibilityofhishavingenduredsuchunkindness,wasenoughtointerestallhertenderfeelings;andnothingremainedthereforetobedone,buttothinkwellofthemboth,todefendtheconductofeach,andthrowintotheaccountofaccidentormistakewhatevercouldnotbeotherwiseexplained. 

           "Theyhaveboth,"saidshe,"beendeceived,Idaresay,insomewayorother,ofwhichwecanformnoidea. Interestedpeoplehaveperhapsmisrepresentedeachtotheother. Itis,inshort,impossibleforustoconjecturethecausesorcircumstanceswhichmayhavealienatedthem,withoutactualblameoneitherside." 

           "Verytrue,indeed; andnow,mydearJane,whathaveyougottosayonbehalfoftheinterestedpeoplewhohaveprobablybeenconcernedinthebusiness? Doclearthemtoo,orweshallbeobligedtothinkillofsomebody." 

           "Laughasmuchasyouchoose,butyouwillnotlaughmeoutofmyopinion. MydearestLizzy,dobutconsiderinwhatadisgracefullightitplacesMr.Darcy,tobetreatinghisfather’sfavouriteinsuchamanner,onewhomhisfatherhadpromisedtoprovidefor. Itisimpossible. Nomanofcommonhumanity,nomanwhohadanyvalueforhischaracter,couldbecapableofit. Canhismostintimatefriendsbesoexcessivelydeceivedinhim? Oh!no."