CHAPTER VIII.
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, forthe better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survivedhim. He now wished it more than ever. Had he done his duty in thatrespect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle, for whatever ofhonour or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction ofprevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to beher 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 expence of his brother-in-law, andhe was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of hisassistance, and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could.
When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was held to be perfectlyuseless; for, of course, they were to have a son. This son was to joinin cutting off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widowand younger children would by that means be provided for. Five daughterssuccessively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs.Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that hewould. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then toolate to be saving. Mrs. Bennet had no turn for economy, and herhusband's love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding theirincome.
Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennet andthe children. But in what proportions it should be divided amongst thelatter, depended on the will of the parents. This was one point, withregard to Lydia at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr. Bennetcould have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him. Interms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother, thoughexpressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfectapprobation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfil theengagements that had been made for him. He had never before supposedthat, could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would bedone with so little inconvenience to himself, as by the presentarrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds a-year the loser, by thehundred that was to be paid them; for, what with her board and pocketallowance, and the continual presents in money, which passed to her,through her mother's hands, Lydia's expences had been very little withinthat sum.
That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side, too, wasanother very welcome surprise; for his chief wish at present, was tohave as little trouble in the business as possible. When the firsttransports of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her wereover, he naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter wassoon dispatched; for though dilatory in undertaking business, he wasquick in its execution. He begged to know farther particulars of what hewas indebted to his brother; but was too angry with Lydia, to send anymessage to her.
The good news quickly spread through the house; and with proportionatespeed through the neighbourhood. It was borne in the latter with decentphilosophy. To be sure it would have been more for the advantage ofconversation, had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as thehappiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant farmhouse. But there was much to be talked of, in marrying her; and thegood-natured wishes for her well-doing, which had proceeded before, fromall the spiteful old ladies in Meryton, lost but little of their spiritin this change of circumstances, because with such an husband, hermisery was considered certain.
It was a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had been down stairs, but on thishappy day, she again took her seat at the head of her table, and inspirits oppressively high. No sentiment of shame gave a damp to hertriumph. The marriage of a daughter, which had been the first object ofher wishes, since Jane was sixteen, was now on the point ofaccomplishment, and her thoughts and her words ran wholly on thoseattendants of elegant nuptials, fine muslins, new carriages, andservants. She was busily searching through the neighbourhood for aproper situation for her daughter, and, without knowing or consideringwhat their income might be, rejected many as deficient in size andimportance.
”Haye-Park might do,” said she, ”if the Gouldings would quit it, or thegreat house at Stoke, if the drawing-room were larger; but Ashworth istoo far off! I could not bear to have her ten miles from me; and as forPurvis Lodge, the attics are dreadful.”
Her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption, while theservants remained. But when they had withdrawn, he said to her, ”Mrs.Bennet, before you take any, or all of these houses, for your son anddaughter, let us come to a right understanding. Into _one_ house in thisneighbourhood, they shall never have admittance. I will not encouragethe impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn.”
A long dispute followed this declaration; but Mr. Bennet was firm: itsoon led to another; and Mrs. Bennet found, with amazement and horror,that her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for hisdaughter. He protested that she should receive from him no mark ofaffection whatever, on the occasion. Mrs. Bennet could hardly comprehendit. That his anger could be carried to such a point of inconceivableresentment, as to refuse his daughter a privilege, without which hermarriage would scarcely seem valid, exceeded all that she could believepossible. She was more alive to the disgrace, which the want of newclothes must reflect on her daughter's nuptials, than to any sense ofshame at her eloping and living with Wickham, a fortnight before theytook place.
Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress ofthe moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears forher sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the propertermination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal itsunfavourable beginning, from all those who were not immediately on thespot.
She had no fear of its spreading farther, through his means. There werefew people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended;but at the same time, there was no one, whose knowledge of a sister'sfrailty would have mortified her so much. Not, however, from any fear ofdisadvantage from it, individually to herself; for at any rate, thereseemed a gulf impassable between them. Had Lydia's marriage beenconcluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed thatMr. Darcy would connect himself with a family, where to every otherobjection would now be added, an alliance and relationship of thenearest kind with the man whom he so justly scorned.
From such a connection she could not wonder that he should shrink. Thewish of procuring her regard, which she had assured herself of hisfeeling in Derbyshire, could not in rational expectation survive such ablow as this. She was humbled, she was grieved; she repented, though shehardly knew of what. She became jealous of his esteem, when she could nolonger hope to be benefited by it. She wanted to hear of him, when thereseemed the least chance of gaining intelligence. She was convinced thatshe could have been happy with him; when it was no longer likely theyshould meet.
What a triumph for him, as she often thought, could he know that theproposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago, would nowhave been gladly and gratefully received! He was as generous, shedoubted 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, indisposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding andtemper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. Itwas an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her easeand liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved,and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, she musthave received benefit of greater importance.
But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude whatconnubial felicity really was. An union of a different tendency, andprecluding the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in theirfamily.
How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence,she could not imagine. But how little of permanent happiness couldbelong to a couple who were only brought together because their passionswere stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture.
* * * * *
Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother. To Mr. Bennet'sacknowledgments he briefly replied, with assurances of his eagerness topromote the welfare of any of his family; and concluded with intreatiesthat the subject might never be mentioned to him again. The principalpurport of his letter was to inform them, that Mr. Wickham had resolvedon 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 removalfrom the ----shire, as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could do. But Mrs.Bennet, was not so well pleased with it. Lydia's being settled in theNorth, just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in hercompany, for she had by no means given up her plan of their residing inHertfordshire, was a severe disappointment; and besides, it was such apity that Lydia should be taken from a regiment where she was acquaintedwith every body, and had so many favourites.
”She is so fond of Mrs. Forster,” said she, ”it will be quite shockingto send her away! And there are several of the young men, too, that shelikes very much. The officers may not be so pleasant in General ----'sregiment.”
His daughter's request, for such it might be considered, of beingadmitted into her family again, before she set off for the North,received at first an absolute negative. But Jane and Elizabeth, whoagreed in wishing, for the sake of their sister's feelings andconsequence, that she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents,urged him so earnestly, yet so rationally and so mildly, to receive herand her husband at Longbourn, as soon as they were married, that he wasprevailed on to think as they thought, and act as they wished. And theirmother had the satisfaction of knowing, that she should be able to shewher married daughter in the neighbourhood, before she was banished tothe North. When Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother, therefore, hesent his permission for them to come; and it was settled, that as soonas the ceremony was over, they should proceed to Longbourn. Elizabethwas surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such a scheme,and, had she consulted only her own inclination, any meeting with himwould have been the last object of her wishes.