Elizabethhadthesatisfactionofrittlecopse,whereshewasleastlikelytobeinterrupted,shesatdownononeofthebenchesandpreparedtobehappy;forthelengthoftheletterconvincedherthatitdidnotcontainadenial.

    Gracechurchstreet,Sept.6.

    “MydearNiece,

    “Ihavejustreceivedyourletter,andshalldevotethiswholemorningtoansweringit,asIforeseethatalittlewritingwillnotprisewhatIhavetotellyou.Imustconfessmyselfsurprisedbyyourapplication;IatIouruncleisasmuchsurprisedasIam―andnothingbutthebeliefofyourbeingaicit.

    “OntheverydayofmyingsalloverbeforeIarrived;somycuri;oursimselfthatWickham'sworthlessnesshadnotbeensowellknownastomakeitimpossissedthathehadbeforethougsdutytostepforward,andenm.Hehadbeensomedaysintown,beforehewasabletodiscoverthem;buthehadsomethingtodirecthissearch,whichwasmorethanwehad;andtheconsciousnessofthiswasanotherreasonforhissmissedfromherchar;andhecorrup,andhadshebeenabletoreceivethemstobjectwithher,heacknowledged,hadbeentopersuadehertoquitherpresentdisgracefulsituation,andreturntoherfriendsassoonastheycouldbeprevailedons;shewantednohelpofhis;ureandexpediteamarriage,which,inhisveryfirstconverofsomedebtsofhonour,whichwereverypressing;andscruplednottolayall;andastotodosomethingishedthehopeofmoreefagainstthetemptationofimmediaterelief.

    butatlengthwasreducedtobehefirrtherinquiry,thatyourroperlyconsultasyouruncle,andthereforereadinownthatagentleyhadagreatdealoftalktogether.