위컴의 기만（威克姆的欺骗）

오만과 편견 - 제16장

Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 16

편지 속에서 다아시는 자신의 행동을 해명한다. 그는 제인이 진정으로 사랑하는 것 같지 않았기 때문에 빙리를 떼어놓았다고 인정한다. 위컴에 관해서는, 그가 도박꾼이며 지참금을 노리고 다아시의 여동생 조지아나와 사랑의 도피를 하려 했던 유혹자임을 밝힌다.

The next morning, Elizabeth was walking in the garden when she saw Darcy approaching. He was holding a letter, and he seemed determined to speak to her.

엘리자베스는 편지를 여러 번 다시 읽는다. 그녀는 다아시와 위컴을 오해했음을 깨닫는다. 그녀는 자신의 허영심이 판단을 흐리게 했음을 인정한다.

"Miss Bennet," he said, "I have written this letter to answer your accusations. Please read it."

Elizabeth took the letter, curious despite her anger. Darcy waited while she read, then left without another word.

The letter explained everything. First, Darcy wrote about Jane and Bingley. He admitted that he had advised Bingley to leave Jane, but he explained his reasons.

"I believed your sister was indifferent to him," he wrote. "She showed her feelings in a way that could only be perceived as calmness and composure. I did not want my friend to make a marriage that would be unhappy for both."

Elizabeth thought back to Jane's behaviour. It was true—Jane was always calm, always composed. Bingley could easily have misunderstood her feelings.

The second part of the letter was about Wickham. Darcy wrote that Wickham had been left money by Darcy's father, with the intention that he should enter the church. Instead, Wickham had gambled away the money and then tried to elope with Darcy's sister, Georgiana, for her fortune.

"He told you I refused him the living," Darcy wrote. "But the truth is that he refused to enter the church and demanded more money. When I refused, he spread lies about me."

Elizabeth was shocked. Could it be true? Could Wickham have deceived her so completely?

She remembered how charming Wickham had been, how easily he had won her confidence. But she also remembered that Darcy had never spoken ill of anyone else. Perhaps he had been telling the truth all along.

By the time she finished the letter, Elizabeth's feelings had changed completely. She was ashamed of her prejudice, ashamed of the way she had judged Darcy so harshly.

"I have been so foolish," she thought. "I allowed my first impressions to blind me to the truth."

But it was too late. Darcy had left, and she might never see him again.

Elizabeth prepared to leave Hunsford and return home. Her visit was over, but the changes in her heart were only beginning.