ELIZABETH.

Where is he, Harris? [_Looking off._] There he comes! Papa!

[_They run to meet_ MR. BENNET, _and, bringing him in, seat him in a garden chair, one on either side of him_.]

ELIZABETH.

Papa, tell us all about it quickly--quickly.

JANE.

Are they really married, papa?

MR. BENNET.

Yes, that misfortune is well settled on them. They are married fast enough.

ELIZABETH.

And where are they? When will they be here?

MR. BENNET.

I should say they would be here directly. I didn't care to travel with them, but they are not far behind--only just far enough to keep out of the dust of my post chaise.

ELIZABETH.

Dear papa--how you must have suffered!

MR. BENNET.

Say nothing of that--who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, and I ought to feel it.

ELIZABETH.

You must not be too severe upon yourself.

MR. BENNET.

You may well warn me against such an evil. No, Lizzy, let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame. The impression will pa.s.s away soon enough.

ELIZABETH.

But, papa, how did you persuade them to marry?

MR. BENNET.

I didn't persuade them; I haven't the means. It is all your uncle's doing. He has managed to buy Wickham for us.

JANE.

Oh, dear good uncle!

MR. BENNET.

[_Looks at_ JANE _quizzically_.] But there are two things that I want very much to know--one is how much money your uncle has laid down to bring it about, and the other, how I am ever to pay him.

JANE.

But my uncle did not do it all?

ELIZABETH.

No, papa. My Aunt Gardiner has written me that you are to give Lydia an allowance.

MR. BENNET.

Yes, one hundred a year. Do you think that any man in his proper senses would marry Lydia on so slight a temptation as one hundred a year?

ELIZABETH.

That is very true, though it had not occurred to me before. Oh, it must be my uncle's doings. Generous man! I am afraid he has distressed himself. A small sum could not do all this.

MR. BENNET.

No, Wickham's a fool if he takes Lydia with a farthing less than ten thousand pounds. I should be sorry to think so ill of him in the very beginning of our relationship.

ELIZABETH.

Ten thousand pounds! Heaven forbid! How is one-half such a sum to be repaid?