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Chapter L · Pride and Prejudice | Audiobook

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  Speaker 1: Chapter 50 Mr. Bennet had very often wished, before this
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  Speaker 1: period of his life, that instead of spending his whole income,
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  Speaker 1: he had laid by an annual sum for the better
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  Speaker 1: provision of his children and of his wife, if she
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  Speaker 1: survived him. He now wished it more than ever. Had
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  Speaker 1: he done his duty in that respect, Lydia need not
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  Speaker 1: have been indebted to her uncle. for whatever of honour
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  Speaker 1: or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction
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  Speaker 1: of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men
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  Speaker 1: in Great Britain to be her husband might then have
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  Speaker 1: rested in its proper place. He was seriously concerned that
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  Speaker 1: a cause of so little advantage to anyone should be
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  Speaker 1: forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law. And he
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  Speaker 1: was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of
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  Speaker 1: his assistance and to discharge the obligation as soon as
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  Speaker 1: he could. When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was
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  Speaker 1: held to be perfectly useless, for of course they were
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  Speaker 1: to have a son. This son was to join in
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  Speaker 1: cutting off the entail as soon as he should be
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  Speaker 1: of age, and the widow and younger children would by
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  Speaker 1: that means be provided for. Five daughters successively entered the world,
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  Speaker 1: but yet the sun was to come, and Mrs. Bennet,
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  Speaker 1: for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that
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  Speaker 1: he would. This event had at last been despaired of,
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  Speaker 1: but it was then too late to be saving. Mrs.
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  Speaker 1: Bennet had no turn for economy, and her husband's love
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  Speaker 1: of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income. £ 5, 000
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  Speaker 1: was settled by marriage articles on Mrs Bennet and the children,
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  Speaker 1: but in what proportions it should be divided amongst the
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  Speaker 1: latter depended on the will of the parents. This was
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  Speaker 1: one point, with regard to Lydia at least, which was
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  Speaker 1: now to be settled, and Mr Bennet could have no
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  Speaker 1: hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him. in terms
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  Speaker 1: of grateful acknowledgement for the kindness of his brother, though
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  Speaker 1: expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect
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  Speaker 1: approbation of all that was done and his willingness to
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  Speaker 1: fulfil the engagements that had been made for him. He
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  Speaker 1: had never before supposed that could Wickham be prevailed on
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  Speaker 1: to marry his daughter, it would be done. with so
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  Speaker 1: little inconvenience to himself as by the present arrangement. He
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  Speaker 1: would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by
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  Speaker 1: the hundred that was to be paid them, for, what
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  Speaker 1: with her board and pocket allowance, and the continual presence
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  Speaker 1: in money which passed to her through her mother's hands,
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  Speaker 1: Lydia's expenses had been very little within that sum. that
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  Speaker 1: it would be done with such trifling exertion on his
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  Speaker 1: side too, was another very welcome surprise, for his chief
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  Speaker 1: wish at present was to have as little trouble in
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  Speaker 1: the business as possible. When the first transports of rage
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  Speaker 1: which had produced his activity in seeking her were over,
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  Speaker 1: he naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter
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  Speaker 1: was soon dispatched, for though dilatory in undertaking business, he
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  Speaker 1: was quick in its execution. He begged to know further
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  Speaker 1: particulars of what he was indebted to his brother, but
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  Speaker 1: was too angry with Lydia to send any message to her.
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  Speaker 1: The good news quickly spread through the house, and with
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  Speaker 1: proportionate speed through the neighbourhood. It was born in the
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  Speaker 1: latter with decent philosophy. To be sure, It would have
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  Speaker 1: been more for the advantage of conversation, had Miss Lydia
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  Speaker 1: Bennet come upon the town, or, as the happiest alternative,
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  Speaker 1: been secluded from the world in some distant farmhouse. But
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  Speaker 1: there was much to be talked of in marrying her,
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  Speaker 1: and the good-natured wishes for her well-doing, which had proceeded
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  Speaker 1: before from all the spiteful old ladies in Meryton, lost
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  Speaker 1: but little of their spirit in this change of circumstances,
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  Speaker 1: because with such a husband her misery was considered certain.
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  Speaker 1: It was a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had been downstairs,
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  Speaker 1: but on this happy day she again took her seat
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  Speaker 1: at the head of her table and in spirits oppressively high.
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  Speaker 1: No sentiment of shame gave a damp to her triumph.
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  Speaker 1: The marriage of a daughter, which had been the first
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  Speaker 1: object of her wishes since Jane was sixteen, was now
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  Speaker 1: on the point of accomplishment, and her thoughts and her
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  Speaker 1: words ran wholly on those attendants of elegant nuptials, fine muslins,
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  Speaker 1: new carriages and servants. She was busily searching through the
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  Speaker 1: neighbourhood for a proper situation for her daughter, and, without
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  Speaker 1: knowing or considering what their income might be, rejected many
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  Speaker 1: as deficient in size and importance. Hay Park might do,
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  Speaker 1: said she, if the Gouldings would quit it, or the
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  Speaker 1: great house at Stoke, if the drawing-room were larger. But
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  Speaker 1: Ashworth is too far off. I could not bear to
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  Speaker 1: have her ten miles from me. And as for Purvis Lodge...
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  Speaker 1: The attics are dreadful. Her husband allowed her to talk
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  Speaker 1: on without interruption while the servants remained. But when they
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  Speaker 1: had withdrawn, he said to her, Mrs. Bennet, before you
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  Speaker 1: take any or all of these houses, for your son
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  Speaker 1: and daughter, let us come to a right understanding. Into
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  Speaker 1: one house in this neighbourhood they shall never have admittance.
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  Speaker 1: I will not encourage the imprudence of either by receiving
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  Speaker 1: them at Longbourn. A long dispute followed this declaration, but
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  Speaker 1: Meister Bennet was firm. It soon led to another, and
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  Speaker 1: Mrs Bennet found, with amazement and horror, that her husband
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  Speaker 1: would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his daughter.
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  Speaker 1: He protested that she should receive from him no mark
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  Speaker 1: of affection whatever on the occasion. Mrs. Bennet could hardly
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  Speaker 1: comprehend it, that his anger could be carried to such
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  Speaker 1: a point of inconceivable resentment as to refuse his daughter
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  Speaker 1: a privilege, without which her marriage would scarcely seem valid,
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  Speaker 1: exceeded all that she could believe possible. She was more
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  Speaker 1: alive to the disgrace, which her want of new clothes
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  Speaker 1: must reflect on her daughter's nuptials, than to any sense
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  Speaker 1: of shame at her eloping and living with Wickham a
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  Speaker 1: fortnight before they took place. Elizabeth was now most heartily
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  Speaker 1: sorry that she had, from the distress of the moment,
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  Speaker 1: been led to make Mr Darcy acquainted with their fears
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  Speaker 1: for her sister. For since her marriage would so shortly
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  Speaker 1: give the proper termination to the elopement, they might hope
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  Speaker 1: to conceal its unfavourable beginning from all those who were
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  Speaker 1: not immediately on the spot. She had no fear of
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  Speaker 1: its spreading farther, through his means. There were few people
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  Speaker 1: on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended. But
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  Speaker 1: at the same time, there was no one whose knowledge
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  Speaker 1: of a sister's frailty would have mortified her so much. Not, however,
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  Speaker 1: from any fear of disadvantage from it individually to herself.
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  Speaker 1: For at any rate, there seemed a gulf impassable between them.
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  Speaker 1: Had Lydia's marriage been concluded on the most honourable terms,
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  Speaker 1: it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would
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  Speaker 1: connect himself with a family, where to every other objection
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  Speaker 1: would now be added an alliance and relationship of the
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  Speaker 1: nearest kind. with the man whom he so justly scorned.
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  Speaker 1: From such a connection she could not wonder that he
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  Speaker 1: should shrink. The wish of procuring her regard, which she
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  Speaker 1: had assured herself of his feeling in Derbyshire, could not
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  Speaker 1: in rational expectation survive such a blow as this. She
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  Speaker 1: was humbled, she was grieved, she repented, though she hardly
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  Speaker 1: knew of what, She became jealous of his esteem when
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  Speaker 1: she could no longer hope to be benefited by it.
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  Speaker 1: She wanted to hear of him when there seemed the
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  Speaker 1: least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced that she
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  Speaker 1: could have been happy with him when it was not.
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  Speaker 1: no longer likely they should meet. What a triumph for him,
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  Speaker 1: as she often thought. Could he know that the proposals
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  Speaker 1: which she had proudly spurned only four months ago would
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  Speaker 1: now have been gladly and gratefully received? He was as generous,
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  Speaker 1: she doubted not, as the most generous of his sex.
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  Speaker 1: But while he was mortal, there must be a triumph.
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  Speaker 1: She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the
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  Speaker 1: man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her.
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  Speaker 1: His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have
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  Speaker 1: answered all her wishes. It was an union that must
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  Speaker 1: have been to the advantage of both. by her ease
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  Speaker 1: and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved,
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  Speaker 1: and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world,
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  Speaker 1: she must have received benefit of greater importance. But no
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  Speaker 1: such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what
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  Speaker 1: connubial felicity really was. An union of a different tendency,
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  Speaker 1: and precluding the possibility of the other, was soon to
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  Speaker 1: be formed in their family. How Wickham and Lydia were
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  Speaker 1: to be supported in tolerable independence, she could not imagine.
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  Speaker 1: But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a
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  Speaker 1: couple who were only brought together because their passions were
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  Speaker 1: stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture. Mr Gardner
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  Speaker 1: soon wrote again to his brother. To Mr Bennet's acknowledgements,
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  Speaker 1: he briefly replied, with assurances of his eagerness to promote
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  Speaker 1: the welfare of any of his family, and concluded with
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  Speaker 1: entreaties that the subject might never be mentioned to him again.
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  Speaker 1: The principal purport of his letter was to inform them
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  Speaker 1: that Mr Wickham had resolved on quitting the militia. It
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  Speaker 1: was greatly my wish that he should do so, he added,
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  Speaker 1: as soon as his marriage was fixed on. And I
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  Speaker 1: think you will agree with me in considering a removal
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  Speaker 1: from that corps as highly advisable, both on his account
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  Speaker 1: and my niece's. It is Mr Wickham's intention to go
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  Speaker 1: into the regulars, and among his former friends there are
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  Speaker 1: still some who are able and willing to assist him
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  Speaker 1: in the army. He has the promise of an ensigncy
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  Speaker 1: in the general's regiment, now quartered in the north. It
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  Speaker 1: is an advantage to have it so far from this
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  Speaker 1: part of the kingdom. He promises fairly, and I hope
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  Speaker 1: among different people, where they may each have a character
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  Speaker 1: to preserve, they will both be more prudent. I have
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  Speaker 1: written to Colonel Forster to inform him of our present arrangements.
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  Speaker 1: and to request that he will satisfy the various creditors
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  Speaker 1: of Mr. Wickham in and near Brighton with assurances of
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  Speaker 1: speedy payment, for which I have pledged myself. And will
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  Speaker 1: you give yourself the trouble of carrying similar assurances to
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  Speaker 1: his creditors in Meryton, of whom I shall subjoin a list,
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  Speaker 1: according to his information? He has given in all his debts.
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  Speaker 1: I hope at least he has not deceived us. Hagerston
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  Speaker 1: has our directions, and all will be completed in a week.
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  Speaker 1: They will then join his regiment, unless they are first
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  Speaker 1: invited to Longbourn. And I understand from Mrs Gardner that
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  Speaker 1: my niece is very desirous of seeing you all before
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  Speaker 1: she leaves the South. She is well, and begs to
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  Speaker 1: be dutifully remembered to you and her mother. Yours. etc. E. Gardner. Mr.
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  Speaker 1: Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham's
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  Speaker 1: removal from the Shire as clearly as Mr. Gardner could do.
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  Speaker 1: But Mrs. Bennet was not so well pleased with it.
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  Speaker 1: Lydia's being settled in the North, just when she had
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  Speaker 1: expected most pleasure and pride in her company. for she
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  Speaker 1: had by no means given up her plan of their
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  Speaker 1: residing in Hertfordshire, was a severe disappointment. And, besides, it
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  Speaker 1: was such a pity that Lydia should be taken from
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  Speaker 1: a regiment where she was acquainted with everybody and had
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  Speaker 1: so many favourites. She is so fond of Mrs Forster,
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  Speaker 1: said she, it will be quite shocking to send her away.
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  Speaker 1: and there are several of the young men, too, that
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  Speaker 1: she likes very much. The officers may not be so
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  Speaker 1: pleasant in General's regiment. His daughter's request, for such it
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  Speaker 1: might be considered, of being admitted into her family again,
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  Speaker 1: before she set off for the North, received at first
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  Speaker 1: an absolute negative. But Jane and Elizabeth, who agreed in wishing...
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  Speaker 1: for the sake of their sister's feelings and consequence, that
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  Speaker 1: she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents,
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  Speaker 1: urged him so earnestly, yet so rationally and so mildly,
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  Speaker 1: to receive her and her husband at Longbourn as soon
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  Speaker 1: as they were married, that he was prevailed on to
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  Speaker 1: think as they thought and act as they wished. And
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  Speaker 1: their mother had the satisfaction of knowing, that she should
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  Speaker 1: be able to show her married daughter in the neighbourhood,
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  Speaker 1: before she was banished to the north. When Mr. Bennet
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  Speaker 1: wrote again to his brother, therefore, he sent his permission
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  Speaker 1: for them to come, and it was settled that, as
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  Speaker 1: soon as the ceremony was over, they should proceed to Longbourn.
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  Speaker 1: Elizabeth was surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such
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  Speaker 1: a scheme, And, had she consulted only her own inclination,
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  Speaker 1: any meeting with him would have been the last object
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  Speaker 1: of her wishes.