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The extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not to

lay to Mr. Wickham's charge exceedingly shocked her; the more so,

as she could bring no proof of its injustice. She had never heard

of him before his entrance into the ----shire militia, in which

he had engaged at the persuasion of the young man, who, on

meeting him accidentally in town, had there renewed a slight

acquaintance. Of his former way of life, nothing had been known

in Hertfordshire but what he told

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