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Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the

gloom which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of

the Longbourn family. They saw him often, and to his other

recommendations was now added that of general unreserve. The

whole of what Elizabeth had already heard, his claims on Mr.

Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now openly

acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and everybody was pleased to

think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had

known anything of the matter.

Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might

be any extenuating circumstances in the case unknown to the

society of Hertfordshire: her mild and steady candour always

pleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes;

but by everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of

men.

CHAPTER XXV.