CHAPTER VI.
The whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr. Bennet the nextmorning, but the post came in without bringing a single line from him.His family knew him to be on all common occasions, a most negligent anddilatory correspondent, but at such a time, they had hoped for exertion.They were forced to conclude, that he had no pleasing intelligence tosend, but even of _that_ they would have been glad to be certain. Mr.Gardiner had waited only for the letters before he set off.
When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constantinformation of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting,to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could, tothe great consolation of his sister, who considered it as the onlysecurity for her husband's not being killed in a duel.
Mrs. Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire a fewdays longer, as the former thought her presence might be serviceable toher nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet, and was agreat comfort to them, in their hours of freedom. Their other aunt alsovisited them frequently, and always, as she said, with the design ofcheering and heartening them up, though as she never came withoutreporting some fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity,she seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than she foundthem.
All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man, who, but three monthsbefore, had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be in debtto every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured withthe title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman's family.Every body declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world;and every body began to find out, that they had always distrusted theappearance of his goodness. Elizabeth, though she did not credit abovehalf of what was said, believed enough to make her former assurance ofher sister's ruin still more certain; and even Jane, who believed stillless of it, became almost hopeless, more especially as the time was nowcome, when if they had gone to Scotland, which she had never beforeentirely despaired of, they must in all probability have gained somenews of them.
Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; on Tuesday, his wife received aletter from him; it told them, that on his arrival, he had immediatelyfound out his brother, and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch street.That Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham, before his arrival, butwithout gaining any satisfactory information; and that he was nowdetermined to enquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennetthought it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their firstcoming to London, before they procured lodgings. Mr. Gardiner himselfdid not expect any success from this measure, but as his brother waseager in it, he meant to assist him in pursuing it. He added, that Mr.Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present, to leave London, andpromised to write again very soon. There was also a postscript to thiseffect.
”I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out, ifpossible, from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment,whether Wickham has any relations or connections, who would be likely toknow in what part of the town he has now concealed himself. If therewere any one, that one could apply to, with a probability of gainingsuch a clue as that, it might be of essential consequence. At present wehave nothing to guide us. Colonel Forster will, I dare say, do everything in his power to satisfy us on this head. But, on second thoughts,perhaps Lizzy could tell us, what relations he has now living, betterthan any other person.”
Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference forher authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give anyinformation of so satisfactory a nature, as the compliment deserved.
She had never heard of his having had any relations, except a father andmother, both of whom had been dead many years. It was possible, however,that some of his companions in the ----shire, might be able to give moreinformation; and, though she was not very sanguine in expecting it, theapplication was a something to look forward to.
Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxiouspart of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters wasthe first grand object of every morning's impatience. Through letters,whatever of good or bad was to be told, would be communicated, and everysucceeding day was expected to bring some news of importance.
But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived fortheir father, from a different quarter, from Mr. Collins; which, as Janehad received directions to open all that came for him in his absence,she accordingly read; and Elizabeth, who knew what curiosities hisletters always were, looked over her, and read it likewise. It was asfollows:
”MY DEAR SIR,
”I feel myself called upon, by our relationship, and my situation in life, to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from Hertfordshire. Be assured, my dear Sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathise with you, and all your respectable family, in your present distress, which must be of the bitterest kind, because proceeding from a cause which no time can remove. No arguments shall be wanting on my part, that can alleviate so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be of all others most afflicting to a parent's mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to suppose, as my dear Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter, has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence, though, at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity, at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, you are grievously to be pitied, in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter, will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others, for who, as lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family. And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last November, for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me advise you then, my dear Sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence.
”I am, dear Sir, &c. &c.”
Mr. Gardiner did not write again, till he had received an answer fromColonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send.It was not known that Wickham had a single relation, with whom he keptup any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one living.His former acquaintance had been numerous; but since he had been in themilitia, it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendshipwith any of them. There was no one therefore who could be pointed out,as likely to give any news of him. And in the wretched state of his ownfinances, there was a very powerful motive for secrecy, in addition tohis fear of discovery by Lydia's relations, for it had just transpiredthat he had left gaming debts behind him, to a very considerableamount. Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds wouldbe necessary to clear his expences at Brighton. He owed a good deal inthe town, but his debts of honour were still more formidable. Mr.Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars from the Longbournfamily; Jane heard them with horror. ”A gamester!” she cried. ”This iswholly unexpected. I had not an idea of it.”
Mr. Gardiner added in his letter, that they might expect to see theirfather at home on the following day, which was Saturday. Renderedspiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours, he had yielded tohis brother-in-law's intreaty that he would return to his family, andleave it to him to do, whatever occasion might suggest to be advisablefor continuing their pursuit. When Mrs. Bennet was told of this, she didnot express so much satisfaction as her children expected, consideringwhat her anxiety for his life had been before.
”What, is he coming home, and without poor Lydia!” she cried. ”Sure hewill not leave London before he has found them. Who is to fight Wickham,and make him marry her, if he comes away?”
As Mrs. Gardiner began to wish to be at home, it was settled that sheand her children should go to London, at the same time that Mr. Bennetcame from it. The coach, therefore, took them the first stage of theirjourney, and brought its master back to Longbourn.
Mrs. Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and herDerbyshire friend, that had attended her from that part of the world.His name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece;and the kind of half-expectation which Mrs. Gardiner had formed, oftheir being followed by a letter from him, had ended in nothing.Elizabeth had received none since her return, that could come fromPemberley.
The present unhappy state of the family, rendered any other excuse forthe lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore, could befairly conjectured from _that_, though Elizabeth, who was by this timetolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was perfectly aware,that, had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have borne the dread ofLydia's infamy somewhat better. It would have spared her, she thought,one sleepless night out of two.
When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance of his usualphilosophic composure. He said as little as he had ever been in thehabit of saying; made no mention of the business that had taken himaway, and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak ofit.
It was not till the afternoon, when he joined them at tea, thatElizabeth ventured to introduce the subject; and then, on her brieflyexpressing her sorrow for what he must have endured, he replied, ”Saynothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing,and I ought to feel it.”
”You must not be too severe upon yourself,” replied Elizabeth.
”You may well warn me against such an evil. Human nature is so prone tofall into it! No, Lizzy, let me once in my life feel how much I havebeen to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression.It will pass away soon enough.”
”Do you suppose them to be in London?”
”Yes; where else can they be so well concealed?”
”And Lydia used to want to go to London,” added Kitty.
”She is happy, then,” said her father, drily; ”and her residence therewill probably be of some duration.”
Then, after a short silence, he continued, ”Lizzy, I bear you noill-will for being justified in your advice to me last May, which,considering the event, shews some greatness of mind.”
They were interrupted by Miss Bennet, who came to fetch her mother'stea.
”This is a parade,” cried he, ”which does one good; it gives such anelegance to misfortune! Another day I will do the same; I will sit inmy library, in my night cap and powdering gown, and give as much troubleas I can,--or, perhaps, I may defer it, till Kitty runs away.”
”I am not going to run away, Papa,” said Kitty, fretfully; ”if _I_should ever go to Brighton, I would behave better than Lydia.”
”_You_ go to Brighton!--I would not trust you so near it as East Bournefor fifty pounds! No, Kitty, I have at last learnt to be cautious, andyou will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever to enter my houseagain, nor even to pass through the village. Balls will be absolutelyprohibited, unless you stand up with one of your sisters. And you arenever to stir out of doors, till you can prove, that you have spent tenminutes of every day in a rational manner.”
Kitty, who took all these threats in a serious light, began to cry.
”Well, well,” said he, ”do not make yourself unhappy. If you are a goodgirl for the next ten years, I will take you to a review at the end ofthem.”