“Well,Lizzy,”said Mrs.Bennet one day,“what is your opinion now of this sad business of Jane's?For my part,I am determined never to speak of it again to anybody.I told my sister Phillips so the other day. But I cannot find out that Jane saw anything of him in London.Well,he is a very undeserving young man―and I do not suppose there's the least chance in the world of her ever getting him now.There is no talk of his coming to Netherfield again in the summer;and I have inquired of everybody,too,who is likely to know.”
Miss Bennet paused a little, and then replied,“Surely there can be no occasion for exposing him so dreadfully.What is your opinion?”
“That it ought not to be attempted.Mr.Darcy has not authorised me to make his communication public. On the contrary, every particular relative to his sister was meant to be kept as much as possible to myself; and if I endeavour to undeceive people as to the rest of his conduct, who will believe me?The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy is so violent, that it would be the death of half the good people in Meryton to attempt to place him in an amiable light.I am not equal to it.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.”