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Pride & Prejudice – page 377

Pride and Prejudice

Wickham will soon be gone; and therefore it will not

signify to anyone here what he really is. Some time

hence it will be all found out, and then we may laugh

at their stupidity in not knowing it before. At present I

will say nothing about it.”

“You are quite right. To have his errors made public

might ruin him for ever. He is now, perhaps, sorry

for what he has done, and anxious to re-establish a

character. We must not make him desperate.”

The tumult of Elizabeth’s mind was allayed by this

conversation. She had got rid of two of the secrets

which had weighed on her for a fortnight, and was

certain of a willing listener in Jane, whenever she

might wish to talk again of either. But there was still

something lurking behind, of which prudence forbade

the disclosure. She dared not relate the other half

of Mr. Darcy’s letter, nor explain to her sister how

sincerely she had been valued by her friend. Here was

knowledge in which no one could partake; and she was

sensible that nothing less than a perfect understanding

between the parties could justify her in throwing off

this last encumbrance of mystery. “And then,” said she,

“if that very improbable event should ever take place,

I shall merely be able to tell what Bingley may tell in

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