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The next day the girls walked into Meryton , and Mr Collins went with them . The town was full of officers that winter , because a regiment was staying there . In the street they met one of them , Mr Denny , with a young man they had never seen before . Mr Denny introduced his friend . His name was Mr Wickham , and he had just joined the regiment . He had a handsome face , a good figure and very pleasing manners , and he talked easily and well . While they were all standing there , Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley rode down the street . Mr Bingley stopped to ask after Jane’s health . Mr Darcy was about to greet the ladies when his eyes fell on the stranger . Elizabeth happened to see both their faces at that moment . Both men changed colour : one turned white , and the other turned red . After a moment Mr Wickham touched his hat , and Mr Darcy just managed to return the greeting . What could it mean ? It was impossible to guess , and impossible not to want to know . IV . Mr Wickham’s Story The following evening the Bennet girls went to a party at the house of their aunt , Mrs Philips , in Meryton . Mr Wickham was there with the other officers . He was by far the most charming of them all , and when he chose a seat next to Elizabeth , she felt very lucky . At first they talked about ordinary things . Then Mr Wickham asked how long Mr Darcy had been staying in the area . “ About a month , ” said Elizabeth . Then , unwilling to let the subject drop , she added , “ He has a very large estate in Derbyshire , I believe . ” “ Yes , ” he said . “ It is called Pemberley . I know the family well , because I have been connected with them since I was a child . ” She could not hide her surprise . “ You may well be surprised , after seeing the cold way we met yesterday . Do you know Mr Darcy well ? ” “ As well as I ever wish to , ” cried Elizabeth . “ I think him very unpleasant . Everybody here is disgusted with his pride . ” Then Mr Wickham told her his story . His father had managed the estate for old Mr Darcy , and the old man had been his godfather and his best friend . Old Mr Darcy had wanted the boy to work in the church when he grew up . In his will he had left him the next good church position that became free on the estate . “ But when the place fell free , ” said Wickham , “ it was given to somebody else . ” “ Good heavens ! ” cried Elizabeth . “ How could that be ? Could the will be ignored ? ” “ There was a weak point in the wording , and the son used it . I have a warm temper , and I may sometimes have spoken my mind about him too freely . That is all . The truth is that we are very different sorts of men , and that he hates me . ” “ This is shocking ! He should be shamed in front of the whole world . ” “ One day he will be , but not by me . Until I can forget his father , I can never speak against the son . ” Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings , and she thought him handsomer than ever as he spoke . “ But what can have made him act so cruelly ? ” she asked .
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