Гордість і упередження

           Mysister,whoismorethantenyearsmyjunior,waslefttotheguardianshipofmymother’snephew,ColonelFitzwilliam,andmyself. Aboutayearago,shewastakenfromschool,andanestablishmentformedforherinLondon;andlastsummershewentwiththeladywhopresidedoverit,toRamsgate; andthitheralsowentMr.Wickham,undoubtedlybydesign; forthereprovedtohavebeenaprioracquaintancebetweenhimandMrs.Younge,inwhosecharacterweweremostunhappilydeceived; andbyherconnivanceandaid,hesofarrecommendedhimselftoGeorgiana,whoseaffectionateheartretainedastrongimpressionofhiskindnesstoherasachild,thatshewaspersuadedtobelieveherselfinlove,andtoconsenttoanelopement. Shewasthenbutfifteen,whichmustbeherexcuse; andafterstatingherimprudence,Iamhappytoadd,thatIowedtheknowledgeofittoherself. Ijoinedthemunexpectedlyadayortwobeforetheintendedelopement,andthenGeorgiana,unabletosupporttheideaofgrievingandoffendingabrotherwhomshealmostlookeduptoasafather,acknowledgedthewholetome. YoumayimaginewhatIfeltandhowIacted. Regardformysister’screditandfeelingspreventedanypublicexposure;butIwrotetoMr.Wickham,wholefttheplaceimmediately,andMrs.Youngewasofcourseremovedfromhercharge. Mr.Wickham’schiefobjectwasunquestionablymysister’sfortune,whichisthirtythousandpounds; butIcannothelpsupposingthatthehopeofrevenginghimselfonmewasastronginducement. Hisrevengewouldhavebeencompleteindeed. 

           "This,madam,isafaithfulnarrativeofeveryeventinwhichwehavebeenconcernedtogether; andifyoudonotabsolutelyrejectitasfalse,youwill,Ihope,acquitmehenceforthofcrueltytowardsMr.Wickham. Iknownotinwhatmanner,underwhatformoffalsehoodhehadimposedonyou;buthissuccessisnotperhapstobewonderedat. Ignorantasyoupreviouslywereofeverythingconcerningeither,detectioncouldnotbeinyourpower,andsuspicioncertainlynotinyourinclination.