Chapter-17
Two days after Mr. Bennet’s return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking in the garden, they heard that an express letter had come for their father from Mr. Gardiner. Away ran the girls to find their father. He was nowhere in the house, but at last they saw him walking away towards a small wood. Jane, who was not so light a runner as her sister, soon fell behind, while Elizabeth, panting for breath, ran up to him and eagerly cried out, “Oh, papa, what news? What news? Have you heard from my uncle?”
“Yes, I have had a letter from him by express.”
“Well, and what news does it bring? Good or bad?”
“What good news can be expected?” he said, 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.”
“My dear brother,
At last I am able to send news of my niece which will, on the whole, I hope give you satisfaction. Soon after you had left I was able to find out in what part of London they were. 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 find there was any intention of being so. But if you will agree to the promises which I have made on your behalf, I hope it will not be long before they are. All that is wanted is that you should promise your daughter her equal share of the five thousand pounds which will come to your children after your death and that you should allow her one hundred pounds a year during your life. These are conditions which I had no hesitation in promising for you. I shall send this by express so that I may have your answer as soon as possible. You will understand from these conditions that Mr. Wickham is not so badly off as we thought. I am happy to say that there will be a little money, even when all his debts are paid, to settle on my niece. If you send me permission, I will immediately give orders to the lawyers to arrange a proper settlement. There will be no reason at all for you to come to town again; therefore stay quietly at Longbourn and depend on me. Send back your answer as soon as you can. We have thought it best that my niece should be married from our house. I hope you will approve. She comes to us today. I shall write again as soon as possible.”
“Is it possible?” cried Elizabeth when she had finished, “Can it be possible that he will marry her?”
“Wickham is not so wicked as we have thought him,” said her sister, “My dear father, I congratulate you.”
“Have you answered the letter?” said Elizabeth.
“No, but it must be done soon.”
“Oh, my dear father,” she cried, “come back and write immediately. Consider how important every moment is.”
“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.”
He turned back with them and walked towards the house.
The good news quickly spread through the house and the neighbourhood. It was received by the latter with decent philosophy. To be sure, it would have helped conversation if Miss Lydia Rennet had become a woman of the town, or had been shut away from the world in some distant farm house. But there was much to be discussed about her marriage. The good-natured wishes for her welfare by the spiteful old ladies of Meryton continued; with such a husband her misery was considered certain.
On this happy day Mrs. Rennet again took her seat at the head of her table at dinner. She was in high spirits. No shame dampened her triumph. The marriage of a daughter, which had been her first object since Jane was sixteen, was now about to be achieved. Her thoughts, her words were wholly about clothes, carriages and servants. She was busy considering what houses in the neighbourhood would suit her daughter, without considering what their income would be.
Her husband allowed her to talk without interruption while the servants were in the room. But when they had left he said to her, “Mrs. Bennet, before you take any or all of these houses for your son and daughter, let us understand one thing. Into one house in this neighbourhood they shall never enter. I will not receive either of them at Longbourn.”
A long argument followed this declaration. It soon led to another, when Mrs. Bennet found, with amazement and horror, that her husband would not spend a pound on clothes for his daughter. Mrs. Bennet could not understand it. She was more conscious of the disgrace of her daughter wearing old clothes at her wedding than of any shame at her living with Wickham a fortnight before the marriage took place.
Elizabeth was now very sorry indeed that she had, in the distress of the first moment, told Mr. Darcy about her fears for her sister. Since Lydia’s marriage would so shortly follow they might conceal its beginning from those who were not on the spot. She had no fear of the news spreading through his means. There were few people on whose secrecy she could better rely. But at the same time there was no one whose opinion she valued more. The gulf between them was now impassable. Even if Lydia’s marriage had been an honourable one, Mr. Darcy would never connect himself with a family which included a man whom he so rightly scorned.
What a triumph for him if he could have known that the proposals which she had proudly refused only four months ago would now have been gladly and gratefully received! She began now to understand that he was exactly the man who would most suit her. His intelligence and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was a marriage that would have improved both of them. Her case and liveliness would have softened his mind and improved his manners; and she would have benefited greatly from his good judgment and knowledge.
But no such happy marriage was now possible. A different kind of marriage, preventing the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed.
Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother. He begged that the matter of the money should never be mentioned to him again. His main news was to tell them that Mr. Wickham had decided to enter the Army. He was to join a regiment stationed in the north. His creditors were to be paid quickly, so that he might leave as soon as possible. Before they left Lydia was very anxious to see her family again at Longbourn.
Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham’s leaving the country. But Mrs. Bennet was not so pleased that Lydia should settle in the north, just when she expected most pleasure and pride in her company.
Lydia’s request to see her family again received at first an absolute refusal. But Jane and Elizabeth urged their father so earnestly, yet to sensibly and gently, to receive her and her husband as soon as they were married, that he was persuaded to do as they wished. When Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother, therefore, he sent permission for them to come.
