Chapter 35-36

The next day, while Elizabeth is taking a stroll, she unexpectedly encounters Darcy, who hands her a letter before walking away. Curious, she begins to read the letter, in which Darcy once again acknowledges his efforts to interfere with Jane and Bingley's relationship. He justifies his actions by arguing that Jane's feelings for Bingley were not as deep as they needed to be to prevent potential heartbreak. Darcy also expresses concerns about Bingley getting involved with the Bennet family, given their lack of wealth and social propriety.

Regarding Wickham, the letter reveals that Darcy did financially support him after his father's death and clarifies that their falling out stemmed from Wickham's attempt to elope with Darcy's sister, Georgiana, with the intention of gaining her inheritance.

Elizabeth is taken aback by these revelations. While she rejects some of Darcy's claims about Jane and Bingley, his account of Wickham's actions causes her to reconsider her trust in the officer. Her feelings toward Darcy suddenly become uncertain.

Chapter 37-39

Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam depart from Rosings. A week later, despite Lady Catherine's urging for Elizabeth to stay for two more weeks, she leaves the parsonage. Before her departure, Mr. Collins deludes himself into thinking he and Charlotte are well-suited for each other, though this is clearly not the case. He wishes Elizabeth the same marital bliss he imagines he has.

After a brief stay at the Gardiners' house in London, Elizabeth, accompanied by Jane, returns home. On their way back, they are joined by Catherine and Lydia, who talk incessantly about the soldiers as they travel in their father's carriage. The regiment is heading to Brighton for the summer, and the two girls hope to convince their parents to spend the summer there as well. During their conversation, Lydia mentions with some satisfaction that Wickham is no longer interested in Miss King, who has gone to Liverpool to stay with her uncle.

Mr. and Mrs. Bennet warmly welcome their daughters back, and the Lucases come over for dinner. Lydia enthusiastically shares details about their exciting carriage ride and insists that the girls should visit Meryton to see the officers. Elizabeth declines, as she has no desire to encounter Wickham.

Chapter 40-42

Elizabeth confides in Jane about Wickham's true character, and they contemplate whether to publicly expose him, eventually deciding against it. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennet continues to lament the missed opportunity of Jane marrying Mr. Bingley and expresses her dissatisfaction with Charlotte and Mr. Collins' seemingly happy marriage.

Lydia receives an invitation to spend the summer in Brighton from Colonel Forster's wife. Mr. Bennet allows her to go, believing that the colonel will keep her out of trouble.

Before Wickham's regiment departs, Elizabeth has one final encounter with him, and they cautiously discuss Darcy without delving into the details of what she has uncovered. The soldiers leave Meryton for Brighton, leaving Kitty distressed to see them go and even more upset that her sister is allowed to follow them.

In July, Elizabeth joins the Gardiners on a tour of the Derbyshire countryside, which takes them near Darcy's estate, Pemberley. Learning that Darcy is not currently at home, she agrees to tour the estate.

Analysis: Chapters 35–42

Darcy’s letter begins a humbling process for both Elizabeth and him, which results in a maturation of each of their attitudes toward the other. In Darcy’s case, the rejection of his proposal strikes a blow to his pride and compels him to respond to Elizabeth’s anger. The resulting letter reveals to Elizabeth how she misjudged both him and Wickham. With the extent of her mistaken prejudice suddenly apparent, she is humbled enough to begin to look at Darcy in a new light.

Some critics maintain that Darcy’s letter is unrealistic, contending that such a proud and reserved man would never reveal so many details of his private life. In this view, the letter functions primarily as an artificial device through which Austen is able to introduce a large quantity of information while vindicating Darcy. One can argue, however, that the “dreadful bitterness of spirit” in which Darcy claims to have written the letter explains its uncharacteristic nature. Regardless of its realism, the letter serves its purpose: it reveals the truth about Wickham’s relationship to Darcy and consequently shifts sympathy from Wickham to Darcy. It is interesting to note that the idea of a man eloping with a young woman was clichéd in the literature of Austen’s era; nevertheless, its appearance in Pride and Prejudice serves a vital function, as it later provides Darcy with a motive (besides his love of Elizabeth) for helping Lydia after she elopes with Wickham.

After the reception of the letter, the novel contrives to separate Darcy and Elizabeth, giving each of them space in which to adjust their feelings and behavior. In the meantime, Austen lays the groundwork for Lydia’s whirlwind romance with Wickham and establishes a contrast between Elizabeth’s maturity concerning Darcy and Lydia’s girlish imprudence. Whereas Elizabeth assumes a passive stance in matters of love, consenting to go to Pemberley only because she thinks Darcy will not be there, Lydia actively pursues her beloved officers and stakes her claim to Wickham now that he has lost interest in Miss King: “I will answer for it that he never cared three straws for her.”

That Mr. Bennet is unaware of Lydia’s infatuation with the officer and permits her to follow the militia to Brighton reminds us of his irresponsible detachment from family life. Because of their decision not to expose Wickham, Jane and Elizabeth are also partly responsible for Lydia’s imminent romance. Darcy maintains a similar silence about Wickham’s past, which brings him into the beginnings of an alignment with Elizabeth.