The vicious propensities-the want of principle,which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his best friend,could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself,and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments,which Mr Darcy could not have.Here again I shall give you pain-to what degree you only can tell.But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr Wickham has created,a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from unfolding his real character-it adds even another motive.My excellent father died about five years ago;and his attachment to Mr Wickham was to the last so steady,that in his will he particularly recommended it to me to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow;and if he took orders,desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant.There was also a legacy of one thousand pounds.His own father did not long survive mine,and within half a year from these events Mr Wickham wrote to inform me that,having finally resolved against taking orders,he hoped I should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate pecuniary advantage,in lieu of the preferment by which he could not be benefited.He had some intention,he added,of studying the law,and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would be a very insufficient support therein.I rather wished,than believed him to be sincere;but at any rate,was perfectly ready to accede to his proposal.I knew that Mr Wickham ought not to be a clergyman.The business was therefore soon settled.He resigned all claim to assistance in the Church,were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to receive it,and accepted in return three thousand pounds.All connexion between us seemed now dissolved.I thought too ill of him to invite him to Pemberley,or admit his society in town.In town,I believe,he chiefly lived,but his studying the law was a mere pretence,and being now free from all restraint,his life was life of idleness and dissipation.For about three years I heard little of him;but on the decease of the incumbent of the living which had been designed for him,he applied to me again by letter for the presentation.His circumstances,he assured me,and I had no difficulty in believing it,were exceedingly bad.He had found the law a most unprofitable study,and was now absolutely resolved on being ordained,if I would present him to the living in question-of which he trusted there could be little doubt,as he was well assured that I had no other person to provide for,and I could not have forgotten my revered father's intentions.You will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this entreaty,or for resistingevery repetition of it.His resentment was in proportionto the distress of his circumstances-and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me to others,as in his reproaches to myself.After this period,every appearance of acquaintance was dropt.How he lived I know not.But last summer he was again most ainfully obtruded on my notice.I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself,and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold to any human being.Having said thus much,I feel no doubt of your secrecy.My sister,who is more than ten years my junior,was left to the guardianship of my mother's nephew,Colonel Fitzwilliam,and myself.About a year ago,she was taken from school,and an establishment formed for her in London;and last summer she went with the lady who presided over it,to Ramsgate;and thither also went Mr Wickham,undoubtedly by design;for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs Younge,in whose character we were most unhappily deceived;and by her connivance and aid he so far recommended himself to Georgiana,whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child,that she was persuaded to believe herself in love,and to consent to an elopement.She was then but fifteen,which must be her xcuse;and after stating her imprudence,I am happy to add that I owed the knowledge of it to herself.I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement,and then Georgiana,unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father,acknowledged the whole to me.You may imagine what I felt and how I acted.Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented any public exposure,but I wrote to Mr Wickham,who left the place immediately,and Mrs Younge was of course removed from her charge.Mr Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune,which is thirty thousand pounds;but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement.His revenge would have been complete indeed.
This,madam,is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been concerned together;and if you do not absolutely reject it as false,you will,I hope,acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr Wickham.I know not in what manner,under what form of falsehood,he has imposed on you;but his success is not,perhaps,to be wondered at.Ignorant as you previously were of every thing concerning either,detection could not be in yourpower,and suspicion certainly not in your inclination.
