Chapter 8

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 any one, should be forwarded at the sole expence
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.
"This 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 expences
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 chief
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 farther particulars
of what he was indebted to his brother; but was too angry
with Lydia, to send any message to her.
The good news quickly spread 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 farm house.
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 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 down stairs,
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 would
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 Purvis 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
that she could believe possible.  She was more alive to the 
disgrace, which the 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 the man
whom he so justly scorned.
From such a connection she could not wonder that he
should 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 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 judgment, 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 assurances
of his eagerness to promote the welfare of any of his family,
and concluded with intreaties that thc subject might never be
a 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 a 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 her mother. -- Your's, &c.
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 every body, 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
should be able to shew 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.