Elizabeth
And they are really to be married!
Cried Elizabeth, as soon as they were by themselves.
Elizabeth
How strange this is!
Elizabeth
And for this we are to be thankful.
Elizabeth
That they should marry, small as is their chance of happiness, and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice!
Jane
I comfort myself with thinking that he certainly would not marry Lydia if he had not a real regard for her.
Jane
Though our kind uncle has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that ten thousand pounds, or anything like it, has been advanced.
Jane
He has children of his own, and may have more.
Jane
How could he spare half ten thousand pounds?
Elizabeth
If we are ever able to learn what Wickham’s debts have been.
Elizabeth
And how much is settled on his side on our sister, we shall exactly know what Mr. Gardiner has done for them, because Wickham has not sixpence of his own.
Elizabeth
The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be requited.
Elizabeth
Their taking her home, and affording her their personal protection and countenance, is such a sacrifice to her advantage as years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge.
Elizabeth
By this time she is actually with them!
Elizabeth
If such goodness does not make her miserable now, she will never deserve to be happy!
Elizabeth
What a meeting for her, when she first sees my aunt!
Jane
We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side.
Jane
I hope and trust they will yet be happy.
Jane
His consenting to marry her is a proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of thinking.
Jane
Their mutual affection will steady them;
Jane
And I flatter myself they will settle so quietly, and live in so rational a manner, as may in time make their past imprudence forgotten.
Elizabeth
Their conduct has been such.
Elizabeth
As neither you, nor I, nor anybody, can ever forget.
Elizabeth
It is useless to talk of it.
It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood perfectly ignorant of what had happened.
They went to the library, therefore, and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make it known to her.
He was writing, and, without raising his head, coolly replied,—
Mr. Bennet
Just as you please.
Elizabeth
May we take my uncle’s letter to read to her?
Mr. Bennet
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: one communication would, therefore, do for all.
After a slight preparation for good news, the letter was read aloud.
Mrs. Bennet could hardly contain herself.
As soon as Jane had read Mr. Gardiner’s hope of Lydia’s being soon married, her joy burst forth, and every following sentence added to its exuberance.
She was now in an irritation as violent from delight as she had ever been fidgety from alarm and vexation.
To know that her daughter would be married was enough.
She was disturbed by no fear for her felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct.
Mrs. Bennet
My dear, dear Lydia!
Mrs. Bennet
This is delightful indeed!
Mrs. Bennet
She will be married!
Mrs. Bennet
I shall see her again!
Mrs. Bennet
She will be married at sixteen!
Mrs. Bennet
My good, kind brother!
Mrs. Bennet
I knew how it would be—I knew he would manage everything.
Mrs. Bennet
How I long to see her!
Mrs. Bennet
And to see dear Wickham too!
Mrs. Bennet
But the clothes, the wedding clothes!
Mrs. Bennet
I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly.
Mrs. Bennet
Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him how much he will give her.
Mrs. Bennet
Stay, stay, I will go myself.
Mrs. Bennet
Ring the bell, Kitty, for Hill.
Mrs. Bennet
I will put on my things in a moment.
Mrs. Bennet
My dear, dear Lydia!
Mrs. Bennet
How merry we shall be together when we meet!
Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. Gardiner’s behaviour laid them all under.
Jane
For we must attribute this happy conclusion in a great measure to his kindness.
Jane
We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to assist Mr. Wickham with money.
Mrs. Bennet
It is all very right;
Mrs. Bennet
Who should do it but her own uncle?
Mrs. Bennet
If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must have had all his money, you know;
Mrs. Bennet
And it is the first time we have ever had anything from him except a few presents.
Mrs. Bennet
I am so happy.
Mrs. Bennet
In a short time I shall have a daughter married.
Mrs. Bennet
Mrs. Wickham!
Mrs. Bennet
How well it sounds.
Mrs. Bennet
And she was only sixteen last June.
Mrs. Bennet
My dear Jane, I am in such a flutter, that I am sure I can’t write;
Mrs. Bennet
So I will dictate, and you write for me.
Mrs. Bennet
We will settle with your father about the money afterwards;
Mrs. Bennet
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 very plentiful orders, had not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait till her father was at leisure to be consulted.
One day’s delay, she observed, would be of small importance;
And her mother was too happy to be quite so obstinate as usual.
Other schemes, too, came into her head.
Mrs. Bennet
I will go to Meryton.
Mrs. Bennet
As soon as I am dressed, and tell the good, good news to my sister Philips.
Mrs. Bennet
And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long.
Mrs. Bennet
Kitty, run down and order the carriage.
Mrs. Bennet
An airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure.
Mrs. Bennet
Girls, can I do anything for you in Meryton?
Mrs. Bennet
Here comes Hill.
Mrs. Bennet
My dear Hill, have you heard the good news?
Mrs. Bennet
Miss Lydia is going to be married;
Mrs. Bennet
And you shall all have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding.
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, at best, be bad enough;
But that it was no worse, she had need to be thankful.
And though, in looking forward, neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could be justly expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had feared, only two hours ago, she felt all the advantages of what they had gained.
