Chapter 50

Mr. Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that,

instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum for

the better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survived

him. He now wished it more than ever. Had he done his duty in that

respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever

of honour or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction of

prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be

her husband might then have rested in its proper place.

He was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone

should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law, and he

was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of his assistance,

and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could.

When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was held to be perfectly

useless, for, of course, they were to have a son. The son was to join

in cutting off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widow

and younger children would by that means be provided for. Five daughters

successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs.

Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that he

would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then

too late to be saving. Mrs. Bennet had no turn for economy, and her

husband's love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their

income.

Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennet and

the children. But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the

latter depended on the will of the parents. This was one point, with

regard to Lydia, at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr. Bennet

could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him. In

terms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother,

though expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect

approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfil the

engagements that had been made for him. He had never before supposed

that, could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would

be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present

arrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by the

hundred that was to be paid them; for, what with her board and pocket

allowance, and the continual presents in money which passed to her

through her mother's hands, Lydia's expenses had been very little within

that sum.

That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side, too, was

another very welcome surprise; for his wish at present was to have as

little trouble in the business as possible. When the first transports

of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her were over, he

naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter was soon

dispatched; for, though dilatory in undertaking business, he was quick

in its execution. He begged to know further particulars of what he

was indebted to his brother, but was too angry with Lydia to send any

message to her.

The good news spread quickly through the house, and with proportionate

speed through the neighbourhood. It was borne in the latter with decent

philosophy. To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage

of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as the

happiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant

farmhouse. But there was much to be talked of in marrying her; and the

good-natured wishes for her well-doing which had proceeded before from

all the spiteful old ladies in Meryton lost but a little of their spirit

in this change of circumstances, because with such an husband her misery

was considered certain.

It was a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had been downstairs; but on this

happy day she again took her seat at the head of her table, and in

spirits oppressively high. No sentiment of shame gave a damp to her

triumph. The marriage of a daughter, which had been the first object

of her wishes since Jane was sixteen, was now on the point of

accomplishment, and her thoughts and her words ran wholly on those

attendants of elegant nuptials, fine muslins, new carriages, and

servants. She was busily searching through the neighbourhood for a

proper situation for her daughter, and, without knowing or considering

what their income might be, rejected many as deficient in size and

importance.

"Haye Park might do," said she, "if the Gouldings could quit it--or the

great house at Stoke, if the drawing-room were larger; but Ashworth is

too far off! I could not bear to have her ten miles from me; and as for

Pulvis Lodge, the attics are dreadful."

Her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption while the

servants remained. But when they had withdrawn, he said to her: "Mrs.

Bennet, before you take any or all of these houses for your son and

daughter, let us come to a right understanding. Into _one_ house in this

neighbourhood they shall never have admittance. I will not encourage the

impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn."

A long dispute followed this declaration; but Mr. Bennet was firm. It

soon led to another; and Mrs. Bennet found, with amazement and horror,

that her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his

daughter. He protested that she should receive from him no mark of

affection whatever on the occasion. Mrs. Bennet could hardly comprehend

it. That his anger could be carried to such a point of inconceivable

resentment as to refuse his daughter a privilege without which her

marriage would scarcely seem valid, exceeded all she could believe

possible. She was more alive to the disgrace which her want of new

clothes must reflect on her daughter's nuptials, than to any sense of

shame at her eloping and living with Wickham a fortnight before they

took place.

Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of

the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for

her sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the

proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its

unfavourable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the

spot.

She had no fear of its spreading farther through his means. There were

few people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended;

but, at the same time, there was no one whose knowledge of a sister's

frailty would have mortified her so much--not, however, from any fear

of disadvantage from it individually to herself, for, at any rate,

there seemed a gulf impassable between them. Had Lydia's marriage been

concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that

Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family where, to every other

objection, would now be added an alliance and relationship of the

nearest kind with a man whom he so justly scorned.

From such a connection she could not wonder that he would shrink. The

wish of procuring her regard, which she had assured herself of his

feeling in Derbyshire, could not in rational expectation survive such a

blow as this. She was humbled, she was grieved; she repented, though she

hardly knew of what. She became jealous of his esteem, when she could no

longer hope to be benefited by it. She wanted to hear of him, when there

seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that

she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they

should meet.

What a triumph for him, as she often thought, could he know that the

proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago, would now

have been most gladly and gratefully received! He was as generous, she

doubted not, as the most generous of his sex; but while he was mortal,

there must be a triumph.

She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in

disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and

temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It

was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease

and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved;

and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she

must have received benefit of greater importance.

But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what

connubial felicity really was. An union of a different tendency, and

precluding the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in their

family.

How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence,

she could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness could

belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions

were stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture.

* * * * *

Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother. To Mr. Bennet's

acknowledgments he briefly replied, with assurance of his eagerness to

promote the welfare of any of his family; and concluded with entreaties

that the subject might never be mentioned to him again. The principal

purport of his letter was to inform them that Mr. Wickham had resolved

on quitting the militia.

"It was greatly my wish that he should do so," he added, "as soon as

his marriage was fixed on. And I think you will agree with me, in

considering the removal from that corps as highly advisable, both on

his account and my niece's. It is Mr. Wickham's intention to go into

the regulars; and among his former friends, there are still some who

are able and willing to assist him in the army. He has the promise of an

ensigncy in General ----'s regiment, now quartered in the North. It

is an advantage to have it so far from this part of the kingdom. He

promises fairly; and I hope among different people, where they may each

have a character to preserve, they will both be more prudent. I have

written to Colonel Forster, to inform him of our present arrangements,

and to request that he will satisfy the various creditors of Mr. Wickham

in and near Brighton, with assurances of speedy payment, for which I

have pledged myself. And will you give yourself the trouble of carrying

similar assurances to his creditors in Meryton, of whom I shall subjoin

a list according to his information? He has given in all his debts; I

hope at least he has not deceived us. Haggerston has our directions,

and all will be completed in a week. They will then join his regiment,

unless they are first invited to Longbourn; and I understand from Mrs.

Gardiner, that my niece is very desirous of seeing you all before she

leaves the South. She is well, and begs to be dutifully remembered to

you and your mother.--Yours, etc.,

"E. GARDINER."

Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham's removal

from the ----shire as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could do. But Mrs. Bennet

was not so well pleased with it. Lydia's being settled in the North,

just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in her company,

for she had by no means given up her plan of their residing in

Hertfordshire, was a severe disappointment; and, besides, it was such a

pity that Lydia should be taken from a regiment where she was acquainted

with everybody, and had so many favourites.

"She is so fond of Mrs. Forster," said she, "it will be quite shocking

to send her away! And there are several of the young men, too, that she

likes very much. The officers may not be so pleasant in General ----'s

regiment."

His daughter's request, for such it might be considered, of being

admitted into her family again before she set off for the North,

received at first an absolute negative. But Jane and Elizabeth,

who agreed in wishing, for the sake of their sister's feelings and

consequence, that she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents,

urged him so earnestly yet so rationally and so mildly, to receive her

and her husband at Longbourn, as soon as they were married, that he was

prevailed on to think as they thought, and act as they wished. And their

mother had the satisfaction of knowing that she would be able to show

her married daughter in the neighbourhood before she was banished to the

North. When Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother, therefore, he sent

his permission for them to come; and it was settled, that as soon as

the ceremony was over, they should proceed to Longbourn. Elizabeth was

surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such a scheme, and

had she consulted only her own inclination, any meeting with him would

have been the last object of her wishes.