第92章

But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner，a letter arrived for their father，from a different quarter，from Mr.Collins；which，as Jane had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence，she accordingly read；and Elizabeth，who knew what curiosities his letters always were，looked over her，and read itlikewise.It was as follows：

'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 lastNovember，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 from Colonel 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 kept up 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 the militia，it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with 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 own finances，there was a very powerful motive for secrecy，in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia's relations，for it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him，to a very considerable amount.Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expences at Brighton.He owed a good deal in the town，but his debts of honour were still more formidable.Mr.Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family；Jane heard them with horror.'A gamester！'she cried.'This is wholly unexpected.I had not an idea of it.'

Mr. Gardiner added in his letter，that they might expect to see their father at home on the following day，which was Saturday.Rendered spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours，hehad yielded to his brother-in-law's intreaty that he would return to his family，and leave it to him to do，whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable for continuing their pursuit.When Mrs.Bennet was told of this，she did not express so much satisfaction as her children expected，considering what her anxiety for his life had been before.

'What，is he coming home，and without poor Lydia！'she cried.'Sure he will 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 she and her children should go to London，at the same time that Mr.Bennet came from it.The coach，therefore，took them the first stage of their journey，and brought its master back to Longbourn.

Mrs. Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her Derbyshire 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，of their being followed by a letter from him，had ended in nothing.Elizabeth had received none since her return，that could come from Pemberley.

The present unhappy state of the family，rendered any other excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary；nothing，therefore，could be fairly conjectured from that，though Elizabeth，who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings，was perfectly aware，that，had she known nothing of Darcy，she could have borne the dread of Lydia'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 usual philosophic composure.He said as little as he had ever been in the habit of saying；made no mention of the business that had taken him away，and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of it.

It was not till the afternoon，when he joined them at tea，that Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject；and then，on her briefly expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured，he replied，'Say nothing 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.