Wickham.
[Bowing to Elizabeth.] Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. You have given me the very terms I needed. [To Mrs. Bennet.] You see before you, Mrs. Bennet, an harassed and overworked man. Miss Elizabeth will bear witness that I was on my way to a business appointment when I yielded to temptation and went off for a walk with her and Miss Lucas and their irreproachable escort.
Elizabeth.
And Miss Elizabeth will also testify that you yielded with the celerity and ease of long practice.
Wickham.
[Laughing; to Elizabeth.] But in this case who was the tempter?
Elizabeth.
Oh, I will admit that Mr. Collins was partially responsible.
[All laugh.]
Mrs. Bennet.