PRIDE & PREJUDICE: JANE AUSTEN: CHAPTER FORTY NINE

Two days after Mr Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming towards them, and said, "I beg your pardon, madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes, you might have some good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask."

"What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from the town."

"Dear madam," cried Mrs Hill, in great astonishment, "don't you know there is an express come for master from Mr Gardiner?  He has been there this half-hour, and master has had a letter."

Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time to speak.  They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast room; from there to the library; their father was in neither; and they were on the point of seeking him upstairs with their mother, when they were met by the butler, who said:

"If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking towards the little copse."

Upon this information, they passed instantly through the hall once more, and ran accross the lawn after their father, who was deliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of the paddock.

Jane, who was not so light nor so much in the habit of running as Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while the latter, panting for breath, came up with him, and angrily cried out:

"Oh, papa, what news - have you heard from my uncle?

"Yes, I have had a letter from him by express."

"Well, what news does it bring - good or bad?"

"What is there of good to be expected?" said he, taking the letter from his pocket.  "But perhaps you would like to read it."

Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand.  Jane now came up. 

"Read it aloud," said their father, "for I hardly know myself what it is about."

"Gracechurch Street, Monday, 

August 2.

"My dear brother, 

"At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, and such as, upon the whole, I hope it will give you satisfaction.  Soon after you let me on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to find out what part of London they were.  The particulars I reserve till we meet; it is enough to know they are discovered.  I have seen them both --"

"Then it is always hoped," said Jane, "they are married."

"I have seen them both.  They are not married, nor can I find there was any intention of being so; but if you are willing to perform the engagements which I have ventured to make on your side, I hope it will not be long before they are.  All that is required of you is, to assure to your daughter, by settlement, her equal share of five thousand pounds secured among your children after the decease of yourself and my sister, and moreover, to enter into an engagement allowing her, during her life, one hundred pounds per annum.  These are conditions which, considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I thought myself privileged, for you.  I shall send this by express, that no time may be lost in bringing your answer.  You will easily comprehend, from these particulars, that Mr Wickham's circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to be.  The world has been deceived in that respect; and I am happy to say there will be some little money, even when all his debts are discharged, to settle on my niece, in addition to her own fortune.  If you send me the full powers to act in your name, throughout the whole of this business, I will immediately give directions to Haggerston for preparing a proper settlement.  There will not be the smallest occasion of your coming to town again; therefore, stay quiet at Longbourn, and depend on my deligence and care.  Send back your answer as fast as you can, and be careful to write explicitly.  We have judged it best that my niece should be married from this house, of which, I hope you will approve.  She comes us today.  I shall write again as soon as anything more is determined on.  Yours, Etc., 

"Edw. Gardiner.

"Is it possible?" cried Elizabeth when she finished the letter.

"Wickham is not so undeserving then, as we thought him," said her sister. "My father, I congratulate you."

"And have you answered the letter?" cried Elizabeth.

"No; but it must be done soon."

"Oh! my dear father," cried Elizabeth, "come back, and write immediately.  Consider how important every moment in such a case."

"Let me write for you," said Jane, "if you dislike the trouble yourself."

"I dislike it very much," he replied, "but it must be done."

And so saying, he turned back with them, and walked towards the house.

"And may I ask," said Elizabeth, "but the terms, I suppose, must be complied with."

"Complied with!  I am only ashamed of his asking so little."

"And they must marry!  Yet he is such a man!"

"Yes, yes, they must marry.  There is nothing else to be done.  But there are two things that I want very much to know; one is, how much money your uncle has laid down to bring it about; and the other how am I ever to pay him."

"Money! My uncle!" cried Jane, "what do you mean, sir?"

"I mean, that no man in his senses would marry Lydia on so slight a temptation as one hundred a year during my life, and fifty after I am gone."

"That is very true," said Elizabeth; "though it had not occurred to me before.  His debts to be discharged, and something still to remain!  Oh! it must be my uncle's doing! Generous, good man, I am afraid, he had distressed himself.  A small sum could not do all this."

"No," said her father; "Wickham is a fool if he takes her with a farthing less than ten thousand pounds.  I should be sorry to think so ill of him, in the very beginning of our relationship."

"Ten thousand pounds! Heaven forbid!  How is half such a sum is repaid?"

Mr Bennet made no answer.  Each of them remained silent, and in deep reflections till they reached the house.  Mr Bennet, then went on to his library to write, and the girls walked into the breakfast-room.

"And they are really to be married," cried Elizabeth, as soon as they were by themselves.  "How strange this is! And for this we are to be thankful.  That they should marry, small as is their chance of happiness, and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice.  Oh, Lydia!"

"I comfort myself with thinking," replied Jane, "that he certainly would not marry Lydia if he had not a real regard for her.  Though our kind uncle has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that, ten thousand pounds, or anything like it has been advanced.  He has children of his own.  The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be required.  Their taking her home and affording their personal protection and countenance is, such a sacrifice to her advantage."

"We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side," said Jane, "I hope and trust they will yet be happy.  His consenting to marry her is a proof, that he is to come a right way.  Their mutual affection will steady them."

"Their conduct has been such," replied Elizabeth, "as neither you, nor I, or anybody can forget. It is useless to talk of it."

It now occurred to the girls that their mother was ignorant of the latest development.  They went to the library and asked their father, whether he should have any objection to make it known to her.  He was writing and, without raising his head, coolly replied, "as you please."

"May we take my uncle's letter to read to her?"

"Take whatever you like and get away."

Elizabeth took the letter from his writing table, and they went upstairs together.  Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs Bennet.  After a slight preparation the letter was read aloud. Mrs Bennet could hardly contain herself.  As soon as Jane had read Mr Gardiner's Lydia's being married, her joy burst forth, and every following sentence added to its exuberance.  She was now in an irritable delight as she had been fidgety from alarm and vexation.

"My dear, dear Lydia!" she cried.  "This is delightful indeed!  She will be married at sixteen! My good, kind brother! I knew how it would be.  I knew he would manage everything! How I long to see her, and to see dear Wickham too! But the clothes, the wedding clothes.  I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly. Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him how much he will give her.  Stay, stay, I will go myself.  Ring the bell, Kitty, for Hill.  I will put on my things in a moment.  My dear, dear Lydia!  How merry we shall be when we meet!"

Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief the violence of these transports by diverting her thoughts to Mr Gardiner's actions.

"We must attribute this happy conclusion, she added, "to his kindness."

"Well," cried her mother, "it is all very right; who should do it, but her own uncle?  If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must have had all his money, and it is the first time we have ever had anything from him, except a few presents.  Well! I am so happy.  In a short time I shall have a daughter married.  Mrs Wickham! How well it sounds.  And she was only sixteen last June.  My dear Jane, I am in such a flutter, bu I am sure I can't write; so I will dictate, and you write for me.  We will settle with your father about the money afterwards.

She was then proceeding to all particulars of calico, muslin and cambric, but Jane, though with some difficulty persuaded her to wait till her father was at leisure to be consulted.

Mrs Hill began instantly to express her joy.  Elizabeth received her congratulations amongst the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took refuge in her own room, that she might think with freedom.

Poor Lydia's situation must be bad enough; but it was not worse.  She need be thankful.

THE END