“Yes, but you see, Jane is in a hypothetical situation. Pretty and sweet as she is, she has not had a single proposal, while you are in possession of two. You must open your eyes to Mr. Darcy’s good qualities, Lizzy. It is the only way you will be happy and respectable. And he is a respectable man. I do not know the particulars of what happened with Mr. Wickham, but I do know that he is always at the gaming tables when they are available, and I also know that he was very quick to tell you his tale of woe, and very keen to avoid Mr. Darcy.” He saw his daughter was about to protest and held up his hand. “You have a clever mind, Lizzy. Tell me, why did he speak to you as he did? Why did he not come to the Netherfield ball when he said he would? And why, I might ask, is a man his age only beginning in the militia? Do not let your mind be carried away by your vanity, Elizabeth. He complimented you while Mr. Darcy insulted you; yes, I see that. And he is handsome and amiable and very charming. But do not lose your head over it! You do not know the grief from choosing for the wrong reasons, Elizabeth, and I pray you never do.”

“Is marrying for nothing but material gain not also a wrong reason?” she cried.

“You are determined to be against him! Are you truly so stubborn? It must be my fault for not having taught you better. Ask yourself this: would you be as inclined to believe everything Mr. Wickham said, after an acquaintance of days, if it came from Mr. Collins? Do not speak, just think on it.” He was silent and getting angry himself, and so let his daughter stew on what he had said.

Long used to obeying her father, Elizabeth did as he asked. She imagined Mr. Collins speaking to her so intimately on so short an acquaintance and felt nothing but revulsion and disbelief. Swallowing her pride, she spoke slowly.

“I may have been hasty in my judgment of the situation between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham. But Mr. Darcy has said nothing to refute Mr. Wickham’s claims,” she said.

“Have you asked him?”

She looked at him with surprise.

“Of course not, it would be improper,” he said, dripping with sarcasm. “Mr. Darcy is not one to bandy his personal business about the neighborhood. Neither am I, I might add.”

She looked at him worriedly for a moment before hanging her head. “You have given Mr. Darcy your consent?”

“And my blessing, yes. He did want to speak to you first, but he said he hasn’t had a chance.”