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'Wickham is not so undeserving; then, as we have thought

him,' said her sister. 'My dear father, I congratulate you.'

'And have you answered the letter?' said Elizabeth.

'No; but it must be done soon.'

Most earnestly did she then entreat him to lose no more

time before he wrote.

'Oh, my dear father,' she cried, 'come back and write

immediately. Consider how important every moment is in

such a case.'

'Let me write for you,' said Jane, 'if you dislike the trouble

yourself.'

'I dislike it very much,' he replied; 'but it must be done.'

And so saying, he turned back with them, and walked

towards the house.

'And may I ask?' said Elizabeth; 'but the terms, I sup-

pose, must be complied with.'

'Complied with! I am only ashamed of his asking so little.'

'And they _must_ marry! Yet he is _such_ a man.'

'Yes, yes, they must marry. There is nothing else to be

done. 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.'

'Money! my uncle!' cried Jane, 'what do you mean, sir?'

'I mean that no man in his senses would marry Lydia on

so slight a temptation as one hundred a year during my life,

and fifty after I am gone.'

'That is very true,' said Elizabeth; 'though it had not

occurred to me before. His debts to be discharged, and

something still to remain! Oh, it must be my uncle's doings!

Generous, good man, I am afraid he has distressed himself.

A small sum could not do all this.'

'No,' said her father. 'Wickham's a fool if he takes her

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.'

'Ten thousand pounds! Heaven forbid! How is half

such a sum to be repaid?'

Mr. Bennet made no answer; and each of them, deep in

thought, continued silent till they reached the house. Their

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