Pride and Prejudice, a play by Mary Keith Medbery Mackaye Part 12

HILL.

[_Enters at the door leading to the hall._] May I speak to you, Madam?

MRS. BENNET.

Yes, Hill, yes. [_To the gentlemen._] Excuse me for a moment. I will return directly. [MRS. BENNET _and_ HILL _go out_.]

COLONEL FORSTER.

Oh, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth! Your aunt, Mrs. Phillips, has sent word by me that her card-party is to be on Wednesday. She hopes you will surely be there.

ELIZABETH.

[_In a pre-occupied way, looking towards_ WICKHAM.] Oh, yes, we shall go.

COLONEL FORSTER.

[_As he pa.s.ses the piano, and looking at some music which is on the rack._] Ah! Here is the song you have promised to sing to me. Pray sing it now, Miss Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH.

Really, Colonel Forster, you must excuse me for to-day. Jane will play for you, instead.

JANE.

Indeed, I cannot, Lizzy.

ELIZABETH.

[_Looking meaningly at her._] _Please_, Jane.

COLONEL FORSTER.

Oh, do, I beg--Miss Bennet.

[_All through the following interview between_ ELIZABETH _and_ WICKHAM, _the tinkle of the instrument is heard. During their conversation_ JANE'S _back is_ _turned--also_ COLONEL FORSTER'S _as he looks over her music--so that_ ELIZABETH _and_ WICKHAM _are practically alone_. ELIZABETH _returns to her embroidery. There is an awkward pause for a moment._ WICKHAM _finally breaks it_.]

WICKHAM.

How long has Mr. Darcy been in Hertfordshire, Miss Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH.

Only for a very short time, I believe. He comes from Derbyshire, I understand, and has a very large property there.

WICKHAM.

Yes, his estate is a n.o.ble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. I am well informed on this head---- [_Hesitates._] I have been connected with Mr. Darcy's family in a particular manner since my infancy.

ELIZABETH.

[_Surprised._] Indeed?

WICKHAM.

You may well be surprised, Miss Elizabeth, at this a.s.sertion after seeing the very cold manner of our meeting just now. [_After a pause._]

Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?

ELIZABETH.

No. Though I have heard of him, I met him for the first time to-day, but even on this short acquaintance I should take him to be an ill-tempered man.

WICKHAM.

[_As if he had come to a sudden decision._] Miss Elizabeth, you have been a witness of Mr. Darcy's treatment of me to-day, and therefore I feel that I must, for my own justification, acquaint you with the facts of my past connection with him.

ELIZABETH.

I shall respect your confidence, Mr. Wickham.

WICKHAM.

I am sure of it. [_After a short pause._] Mr. Darcy and I were born in the same parish. My own father, who, to be frank, was steward of the Darcy estates, gave up everything to serve the interests of the Darcy family. Mr. Darcy's father was excessively attached to me:--indeed, I was his G.o.dson. He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done so. I was destined for the church and Mr. Darcy's father left to me a most valuable living. But the present Mr. Darcy chose to ignore his father's will and gave the living to another man. This closed for me the career for which I was most fitted and left me with almost no means of support.

ELIZABETH.

Good heavens! But how could that be? Why did not you seek legal redress?

WICKHAM.