Pride and Prejudice Letters to Grandmama

Dear Grandmama,

I probably shouldn’t be sending this letter, but nevertheless I must vent.  Mr Darcy proposed to me yesterday. He told me that he loved me, and that against all his “reason, birth, and faculties” he could not suppress his emotions for me.  The nerve of it, him saying I was below his birth, and that his reason persuaded him against it.  I refused of course, but also because he had separated Jane and Mr. Bingley.  I wish I could tell Jane, but I fear how it would affect her. Mr. Darcy prevented Mr. Bingley from seeing Jane in London, he did not tell Mr. Bingley she was in town, though Mr. Darcy knew.  I told him that I also refused him because of his abominable actions towards Wickham. He left, angry, and I went home, sick with emotions. Mr. Collins tried to get me to go with them to Lady Catherine's, but at length relented, as he could see I was sick.  The next day, when I was just looking into the park, as it was a wonderful day, Mr. Darcy came up to me and handed me a letter, asking me to read it. It contained his story of Mr. Wickham. And on reading it, I found I had been a fool in my dealings with Mr. Wickham.  Mr. Wickham, according to Mr. Darcy, had been loved by Darcy's father, so he was bequeathed 1000 pounds. Mr. Darcy not only gave him that, but he later gave him 2000 more pounds, to fit him out for some job. There is more, but all in all I only find that I was a fool in speaking to him as I did, and on looking back, I see that what Darcy claims, must be true.  Oh Grandmama, I am mortified and bewildered, how I wish to speak with you!

Elisabeth