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Mr.Bennet made no answer,and each of them,deep in thought, continued silent till they reached the house.Their father then went on to the 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,and may have more. How could he spare half ten thousand pounds?”
“If we were ever able to learn what Wickham's debts have been,”said 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.The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be requited.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. By this time she is actually with them! If such goodness does not make her miserable now,she will never deserve to be happy!What a meeting 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. His consenting to marry her is a proof,I will believe,that he is come to a right way of thinking.Their mutual affection will steady them;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.”
“Their conduct has been such,”replied Elizabeth,“as neither you,nor I,nor anybody can ever forget.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:
“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 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.
“My dear, dear Lydia!”she cried.“This is delightful indeed! She will be married!I shall see her again!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 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.
“For we must attribute this happy conclusion,”she added,“in a great measure to his kindness.We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to assist Mr.Wickham with money.”
“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,you know;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, that 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;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.
“I will go to Meryton,”said she,“as soon as I am dressed,and tell the good,good news to my sister Philips.And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage.An airing would do me a great deal of good,I am sure.Girls,can I do anything for you in Meryton?Oh!Here comes Hill! My dear Hill, have you heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married; 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.She felt it so;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.