Why does Elizabeth fail to notice the many inconsistencies in Wickham's story? Yes, he is a very attractive man, but she prides herself in being a studier of character and she has not until now been blind to the faults even of people she loves. To name only a few of these inconsistencies, Wickham:

- Says nothing until he has ascertained that Darcy is not popular in Meryton

- Alleges that the late Mr Darcy's will was imprecise, highly unlikely for a man who can afford the best lawyers

- Claims that he can never expose Darcy while he remembers his father, when he is in the middle of exposing Darcy to a girl who he met on the previous day and who may for all he knows spread the story all over Meryton

- Comes up with the statement, in connection with Georgiana, that it gives him pain to speak ill of a Darcy, which means he has been subjecting himself to unnecessary pain for much of the conversation.