The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth much attention for any of these new friends; and she could do nothing but think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's civility,and,above all,of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister.
“There is also one other person in the party,”he continued after a pause,“who more particularly wishes to be known to you.Will you allow me,or do I ask too much,to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay at Lambton?”
“There is something a little stately in him,to be sure,”replied her aunt,“but it is confined to his air,and is not unbecoming.I can now say with the housekeeper,that though some people may call him proud,I have seen nothing of it.”
Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of his behaviour to Wickham; and therefore gave them to understand,in as guarded a manner as she could,that by what she had heard from his relations in Kent,his actions were capable of a very different construction; and that his character was by no means so faulty,nor Wickham's so amiable,as they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In confirmation of this, she related the particulars of all the pecuniary transactions in which they had been connected,without actually naming her authority, but stating it to be such as might be relied on.