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the story which followed, of his designs on Miss Darcy, received

some confirmation from what had passed between Colonel

Fitzwilliam and herself only the morning before; and at last she

was referred for the truth of every particular to Colonel

Fitzwilliam himself--from whom she had previously received the

information of his near concern in all his cousin's affairs and

whose character she had no reason to question. At one time she

had almost resolved on applying to him, but the idea was checked

by the awkwardness of the application, and at length wholly

banished by the conviction that Mr. Darcy would never have

hazarded such a proposal, if he had not been well assured of his

cousin's corroboration.