Mrs Gardiner replies immediately. She writes that she and her husband had believed that Elizabeth was fully aware of Darcy’s intervention. Darcy was responsible for finding Wickham and Lydia. He reasoned with them. Lydia would not leave Wickham, despite their not being married. Wickham was not interested in marrying Lydia and still hoped to make his fortune in another match.
Darcy bargained with Wickham and ended up paying his debts, totalling about a £1,000, buying his new commission in the army and settling an extra £1,000 on Lydia. He insisted that Mr Gardiner take the credit for the affair. Mrs Gardiner, in her letter, makes many allusions to another motive that Darcy may have had and praises Darcy’s understanding and opinions. She makes a teasing reference to visiting Elizabeth at Pemberley in the future.
After reading this letter Elizabeth is overcome by a storm of thoughts. She is fully aware of the enormous obligation that she and her family now bear Darcy. She regrets ever having treated him badly and is proud of the nobility of his behaviour.
Wickham appears. He asks her about her visit to Pemberley. Elizabeth shows that she knows more about his behaviour than he thinks. She reminds him that the church living was only promised him conditionally in the late Darcy’s will, and that he had accepted money when he decided not to enter the church. She hints also that she knows of his actions with regard to Georgiana Darcy. She does not want to quarrel with him, and so reminds him that they are brother and sister thanks to his marriage with Lydia. He kisses her hand.
