Miss Bingley.
[To Elizabeth, after a moment's silence.] So, Miss Bennet, I hear that you are quite delighted with George Wickham. He must have told you all a pretty tale. As to Mr. Darcy's using him ill, it is perfectly false. I do not know the particulars, but I do know that George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner. His coming into the county at all is a most insolent thing. I feel very strongly on this point, Miss Bennet, as Mr. Darcy's interests are so intimately associated with our own. [She watches Elizabeth.] We hope Miss Georgiana Darcy may some day be my sister. My brother admires her greatly.
Elizabeth.
[With indifference.] Ah!
Miss Bingley.
Yes, and therefore we resent these falsehoods and this presumption on the part of George Wickham. But, really, considering his descent, we could not expect much better. He has evidently forgotten to tell you that he is the son of old Wickham, steward to the late Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth.
[Angrily.] His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the same. I have heard you accuse him of nothing worse than of being the son of Mr. Darcy's steward, and of that, I can assure you, he informed me himself.
Miss Bingley.
[With a sneer.] Oh! I beg your pardon. Excuse my interference; it was kindly meant.