{{prxprp256.jpg}} || 256 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

themselves with such a family? And this consideration leads me

moreover to reflect, with augmented satisfaction, on a certain event of

last November, 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, etc. etc.'

Mr. Gardiner did not write again, till he had received an answer

from Colonel Forstcr; 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 expenses

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, he

had yielded to his brother^in/law's entreaty 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 satis'

faction 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.

 [[256]]