Chapter 49
TWO days after Mr. Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming towards them, and concluding that she came to call them to their mother, went forward to meet her; but, instead of the expected summons, when they approached her she said to Miss Bennet, ``I beg your pardon, madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes you might have got some good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask.''``What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from town.''
``Dear madam,'' cried Mrs. Hill, in great astonishment, ``don't you know there is an express come for master from Mr. Gardiner? He has been here this half hour, and master has had a letter.''
Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for speech. They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast room; from thence to the library; -- their father was in neither; and they were on the point of seeking him up stairs with their mother, when they were met by the butler, who said,
``If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking towards the little copse.''
Upon this information, they instantly passed through the hall once more, and ran across the lawn after their father, who was deliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of the paddock.
Jane, who was not so light, nor so much in the habit of running, as Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting for breath, came up with him, and eagerly cried out,
``Oh, Papa, what news? what news? Have you heard from my uncle?''
``Yes, I have had a letter from him by express.''
``Well, and what news does it bring? good or bad?''
``What is there of good to be expected?'' said he, taking the letter from his pocket; ``but perhaps you would like to read it.'' Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand. Jane now came up.
``Read it aloud,'' said their father, ``for I hardly know myself what it is about.''
``Gracechurch-street, Monday, August 2.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, and such as, upon the whole, I hope will give you satisfaction. Soon after you left me on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to find out in what part of London they were. The particulars I reserve till we meet. It is enough to know they are discovered; I have seen them both --''
``Then it is as I always hoped,'' cried Jane; ``they are married!''
Elizabeth read on:
``I have seen them both. They are not married, nor can I find there was any intention of being so; but if you are willing to perform the engagements which I have ventured to make on your side, I hope it will not be long before they are. All that is required of you is to assure to your daughter, by settlement, her equal share of the five thousand pounds secured among your children after the decease of yourself and my sister; and, moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, during your life, one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditions which, considering every thing, I had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I thought myself privileged, for you. I shall send this by express, that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer. You will easily comprehend, from these particulars, that Mr. Wickham's circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to be. The world has been deceived
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