Chapter 49

by Jane Austen

　　Two days after Mr. Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth werewalking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they sawthe housekeeper coming towards them, and, concluding that shecame to call them to their mother, went forward to meet her;but, instead of the expected summons, when they approachedher, she said to Miss Bennet, "I beg your pardon, madam, forinterrupting you, but I was in hopes you might have got somegood news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask.""What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from town.""Dear madam," cried Mrs. Hill, in great astonishment, "don'tyou know there is an express come for master from Mr.Gardiner? He has been here this half-hour, and master has hada letter."Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for speech.They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast-room; fromthence to the library; their father was in neither; and they wereon the point of seeking him upstairs with their mother, whenthey were met by the butler, who said:"If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walkingtowards the little copse."Upon this information, they instantly passed through the hallonce more, and ran across the lawn after their father, who wasdeliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood on one sideof the paddock.Jane, who was not so light nor so much in the habit of runningas Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting forbreath, came up with him, and eagerly cried out:"Oh, papa, what news-- what news? Have you heard from myuncle?""Yes I have had a letter from him by express.""Well, and what news does it bring-- good or bad?""What is there of good to be expected?" said he, taking theletter from his pocket. "But perhaps you would like to read it."Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand. Jane now cameup."Read it aloud," said their father, "for I hardly know myself whatit is about.""Gracechurch Street, Monday,""August 2."My Dear Brother,--"At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, andsuch as, upon the whole, I hope it will give you satisfaction.Soon after you left me on Saturday, I was fortunate enough tofind out in what part of London they were. The particulars Ireserve till we meet; it is enough to know they are discovered.I have seen them both-- ""Then it is as I always hoped," cried Jane; "they are married!"Elizabeth read on:"I have seen them both. They are not married, nor can I findthere was any intention of being so; but if you are willing toperform the engagements which I have ventured to make onyour side, I hope it will not be long before they are. All that isrequired of you is, to assure to your daughter, by settlement, herequal share of the five thousand pounds secured among yourchildren after the decease of yourself and my sister; and,moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, duringyour life, one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditionswhich, considering everything, I had no hesitation in complyingwith, as far as I thought myself privileged, for you. I shall sendthis by express, that no time may be lost in bringing me youranswer. You will easily comprehend, from these particulars,that Mr. Wickham's circumstances are not so hopeless as theyare generally believed to be. The world has been deceived inthat respect; and I am happy to say there will be some littlemoney, even when all his debts are discharged, to settle on myniece, in addition to her own fortune. If, as I conclude will bethe case, you send me full powers to act in your namethroughout the whole of this business, I will immediately givedirections to Haggerston for preparing a proper settlement.There will not be the smallest occasion for your coming to townagain; therefore stay quiet at Longbourn, and depend on mydiligence and care. Send back your answer as fast as you can,and be careful to write explicitly. We have judged it best thatmy niece should be married from this house, of which I hopeyou will approve. She comes to us to-day. I shall write again assoon as anything more is determined on. Yours, etc.,"Edw. Gardiner.""Is it possible?" cried Elizabeth, when she had finished. "Can itbe possible that he will marry her?""Wickham is not so undeserving, then, as we thought him," saidher sister. "My dear father, I congratulate you.""And have you answered the letter?" cried Elizabeth."No; but it must be done soon."Most earnestly did she then entreaty him to lose no more timebefore he wrote."Oh! my dear father," she cried, "come back and writeimmediately. Consider how important every moment is in sucha case.""Let me write for you," said Jane, "if you dislike the troubleyourself.""I dislike it very much," he replied; "but it must be done."And so saying, he turned back with them, and walked towardsthe 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 soslight a temptation as one hundred a year during my life, andfifty after I am gone.""That is very true," said Elizabeth; "though it had not occurredto me before. His debts to be discharged, and something still toremain! Oh! it must be my uncle's doings! Generous, goodman, I am afraid he has distressed himself. A small sum couldnot do all this.""No," said her father; "Wickham's a fool if he takes her with afarthing less than ten thousand pounds. I should be sorry tothink so ill of him, in the very beginning of our relationship.""Ten thousand pounds! Heaven forbid! How is half such asum to be repaid?"Mr. Bennet made no answer, and each of them, deep in thought,continued silent till they reached the house. Their father thenwent on to the library to write, and the girls walked into thebreakfast-room."And they are really to be married!" cried Elizabeth, as soonas they were by themselves. "How strange this is! And forthis we are to be thankful. That they should marry, small asis 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 certainlywould not marry Lydia if he had not a real regard for her.Though our kind uncle has done something towards clearinghim, I cannot believe that ten thousand pounds, or anything likeit, has been advanced. He has children of his own, and mayhave more. How could he spare half ten thousand pounds?""If he were ever able to learn what Wickham's debts have been,"said Elizabeth, "and how much is settled on his side on oursister, we shall exactly know what Mr. Gardiner has done forthem, because Wickham has not sixpence of his own. Thekindness of my uncle and aunt can never be requited. Theirtaking her home, and affording her their personal protection andcountenance, is such a sacrifice to her advantage as years ofgratitude cannot enough acknowledge. By this time she isactually with them! If such goodness does not make hermiserable now, she will never deserve to be happy! What ameeting for her, when she first sees my aunt!""We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side,"said Jane: "I hope and trust they will yet be happy. Hisconsenting to marry her is a proof, I will believe, that he is cometo a right way of thinking. Their mutual affection will steadythem; and I flatter myself they will settle so quietly, and live inso rational a manner, as may in time make their past imprudenceforgotten.""Their conduct has been such," replied Elizabeth, "as neitheryou, nor I, nor anybody can ever forget. It is useless to talk ofit."It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in alllikelihood perfectly ignorant of what had happened. They wentto the library, therefore, and asked their father whether he wouldnot wish them to make it known to her. He was writing and,without raising his head, coolly replied:"Just 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 wentupstairs together. Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet:one communication would, therefore, do for all. After a slightpreparation for good news, the letter was read aloud. Mrs.Bennet could hardly contain herself. As soon as Jane had readMr. Gardiner's hope of Lydia's being soon married, her joyburst forth, and every following sentence added to itsexuberance. She was now in an irritation as violent fromdelight, as she had ever been fidgety from alarm and vexation.To know that her daughter would be married was enough. Shewas disturbed by no fear for her felicity, nor humbled by anyremembrance of her misconduct."My dear, dear Lydia!" she cried. "This is delightful indeed!She will be married! I shall see her again! She will be married atsixteen! My good, kind brother! I knew how it would be. Iknew he would manage everything! How I long to see her! andto 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 willgive her. Stay, stay, I will go myself. Ring the bell, Kitty, forHill. I will put on my things in a moment. My dear, dear Lydia!How merry we shall be together when we meet!"Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to theviolence of these transports, by leading her thoughts to theobligations which Mr. Gardiner's behaviour laid them all under."For we must attribute this happy conclusion," she added, "in agreat measure to his kindness. We are persuaded that he haspledged himself to assist Mr. Wickham with money.""Well," cried her mother, "it is all very right; who should do itbut her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I andmy children must have had all his money, you know; and it is thefirst time we have ever had anything from him, except a fewpresents. Well! I am so happy! In a short time I shall have adaughter married. Mrs. Wickham! How well it sounds! Andshe was only sixteen last June. My dear Jane, I am in such aflutter, that I am sure I can't write; so I will dictate, and youwrite for me. We will settle with your father about the moneyafterwards; but the things should be ordered immediately."She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico, muslin,and cambric, and would shortly have dictated some veryplentiful orders, had not Jane, though with some difficulty,persuaded her to wait till her father was at leisure to beconsulted. One day's delay, she observed, would be of smallimportance; and her mother was too happy to be quite soobstinate as usual. Other schemes, too, came into her head."I will go to Meryton," said she, "as soon as I am dressed, andtell the good, good news to my sister Philips. And as I comeback, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run downand order the carriage. An airing would do me a great deal ofgood, I am sure. Girls, can I do anything for you in Meryton?Oh! Here comes Hill! My dear Hill, have you heard the goodnews? Miss Lydia is going to be married; and you shall all havea bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding."Mrs. Hill began instantly to express her joy. Elizabeth receivedher 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, at best, be bad enough; but that itwas no worse, she had need to be thankful. She felt it so; andthough, in looking forward, neither rational happiness norworldly prosperity could be justly expected for her sister, inlooking back to what they had feared, only two hours ago, shefelt all the advantages of what they had gained.