صفحة 594 من 817

"But you see that Jane," said her aunt, "does not think so ill of

Wickham, as to believe him capable of the attempt."

"Of whom does Jane ever think ill? And who is there, whatever

might be their former conduct, that she would believe capable of

such an attempt, till it were proved against them? But Jane

knows, as well as I do, what Wickham really is. We both know that

he has been profligate in every sense of the word; that he has

neither integrity nor honour; that he is as false and deceitful

as he is insinuating."

"And do you really know all this?" cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose

curiosity as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive.