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Pride and Prejudice
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1
She had no fear of its spreading farther through his means.
2
There were few people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended;
3
but,
4
at the same time,
5
there was no one whose knowledge of a sister’s frailty would have mortified her so much—not,
6
however,
7
from any fear of disadvantage from it individually to herself,
8
for,
9
at any rate,
10
there seemed a gulf impassable between them.
11
Had Lydia’s marriage been concluded on the most honourable terms,
12
it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family where,
13
to every other objection,
14
would now be added an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with a man whom he so justly scorned.
15
From such a connection she could not wonder that he would shrink.
16
The wish of procuring her regard,
17
which she had assured herself of his feeling in Derbyshire,
18
could not in rational expectation survive such a blow as this.
19
She was humbled,
20
she was grieved;
21
she repented,
22
though she hardly knew of what.
23
She became jealous of his esteem,
24
when she could no longer hope to be benefited by it.
25
She wanted to hear of him,
26
when there seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence.
27
She was convinced that she could have been happy with him,
28
when it was no longer likely they should meet.
29
What a triumph for him,
30
as she often thought,
31
could he know that the proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago,
32
would now have been most gladly and gratefully received!
33
He was as generous,
34
she doubted not,
35
as the most generous of his sex;
36
but while he was mortal,
37
there must be a triumph.
38
She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who,
39
in disposition and talents,
40
would most suit her.
41
His understanding and temper,
42
though unlike her own,
43
would have answered all her wishes.
44
It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both;
45
by her ease and liveliness,
46
his mind might have been softened,
47
his manners improved;
48
and from his judgement,
49
information,
50
and knowledge of the world,
51
she must have received benefit of greater importance.
52
But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what connubial felicity really was.
53
An union of a different tendency,
54
and precluding the possibility of the other,
55
was soon to be formed in their family.
56
How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence,
57
she could not imagine.
58
But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue,
59
she could easily conjecture.
60
Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother.
61
To Mr. Bennet’s acknowledgments he briefly replied,
62
with assurance of his eagerness to promote the welfare of any of his family;
63
and concluded with entreaties that the subject might never be mentioned to him again.
64
The principal purport of his letter was to inform them that Mr. Wickham had resolved on quitting the militia.
65
“It was greatly my wish that he should do so,”
66
he added,
67
“as soon as his marriage was fixed on.
68
And I think you will agree with me,
69
in considering the removal from that corps as highly advisable,
70
both on his account and my niece’s.
71
It is Mr. Wickham’s intention to go into the regulars;
72
and among his former friends,
73
there are still some who are able and willing to assist him in the army.
74
He has the promise of an ensigncy in General ——’s regiment,
75
now quartered in the North.
76
It is an advantage to have it so far from this part of the kingdom.
77
He promises fairly;
78
and I hope among different people,
79
where they may each have a character to preserve,
80
they will both be more prudent.
81
I have written to Colonel Forster,
82
to inform him of our present arrangements,
83
and to request that he will satisfy the various creditors of Mr. Wickham in and near Brighton,
84
with assurances of speedy payment,
85
for which I have pledged myself.
86
And will you give yourself the trouble of carrying similar assurances to his creditors in Meryton,
87
of whom I shall subjoin a list according to his information?
88
He has given in all his debts;
89
I hope at least he has not deceived us.
90
Haggerston has our directions,
91
and all will be completed in a week.
92
They will then join his regiment,
93
unless they are first invited to Longbourn;
94
and I understand from Mrs. Gardiner,
95
that my niece is very desirous of seeing you all before she leaves the South.
96
She is well,
97
and begs to be dutifully remembered to you and her mother.—
98
Yours,
99
etc.,
100
“E.
101
GARDINER.”
102
Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wickham’s removal from the ——shire as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could do.
103
But Mrs. Bennet was not so well pleased with it.
104
Lydia’s being settled in the North,
105
just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in her company,
106
for she had by no means given up her plan of their residing in Hertfordshire,
107
was a severe disappointment;
108
and,
109
besides,
110
it was such a pity that Lydia should be taken from a regiment where she was acquainted with everybody,
111
and had so many favourites.
112
“She is so fond of Mrs. Forster,”
113
said she,
114
“it will be quite shocking to send her away!
115
And there are several of the young men,
116
too,
117
that she likes very much.
118
The officers may not be so pleasant in General ——’s regiment.”
119
His daughter’s request,
120
for such it might be considered,
121
of being admitted into her family again before she set off for the North,
122
received at first an absolute negative.
123
But Jane and Elizabeth,
124
who agreed in wishing,
125
for the sake of their sister’s feelings and consequence,
126
that she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents,
127
urged him so earnestly yet so rationally and so mildly,
128
to receive her and her husband at Longbourn,
129
as soon as they were married,
130
that he was prevailed on to think as they thought,
131
and act as they wished.
132
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.
133
When Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother,
134
therefore,
135
he sent his permission for them to come;
136
and it was settled,
137
that as soon as the ceremony was over,
138
they should proceed to Longbourn.
139
Elizabeth was surprised,
140
however,
141
that Wickham should consent to such a scheme,
142
and had she consulted only her own inclination,
143
any meeting with him would have been the last object of her wishes.
144
End of chapter 50.
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