All the ladies were impatient to see Mr Wickham,and when he came into the room,he appeared far more charming and gentlemanly than any of the officers present.He was the lucky man towards whom almost every female eye turned,and Eliza- beth was the lucky woman beside whom he finally took his seat.His pleasant way of making conversation made her feel that he could talk interestingly about anything.As he did not play cards,which some of the party were doing,he stayed talk- ing to Elizabeth for a large part of the evening.She hoped he would tell her how he knew Mr Darcy,but she dared not men- tion that gentleman.Luckily,however,Mr Wickham himself began to talk about it,although in a rather hesitating manner.