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第114章（第1页）

Mr。Bennethadveryoftenwishedbeforethisperiodofhislifethat，insteadofspendinghiswholeincome，hehadlaidbyanannualsumforthebetterprovisionofhischildren，andofhiswife，ifshesurvivedhim。Henowwisheditmorethanever。Hadhedonehisdutyinthatrespect，Lydianeednothavebeenindebtedtoheruncleforwhateverofhonourorcreditcouldnowbepurchasedforher。ThesatisfactionofprevailingononeofthemostworthlessyoungmeninGreatBritaintobeherhusbandmightthenhaverestedinitsproperplace。

Hewasseriouslyconcernedthatacauseofsolittleadvantagetoanyoneshouldbeforwardedatthesoleexpenseofhisbrother-in-law，andhewasdetermined，ifpossible，tofindouttheextentofhisassistance，andtodischargetheobligationassoonashecould。

WhenfirstMr。Bennethadmarried，economywasheldtobeperfectlyuseless，for，ofcourse，theyweretohaveason。Thesonwastojoinincuttingofftheentail，assoonasheshouldbeofage，andthewidowandyoungerchildrenwouldbythatmeansbeprovidedfor。Fivedaughterssuccessivelyenteredtheworld，butyetthesonwastocome;andMrs。Bennet，formanyyearsafterLydiasbirth，hadbeencertainthathewould。Thiseventhadatlastbeendespairedof，butitwasthentoolatetobesaving。Mrs。Bennethadnoturnforeconomy，andherhusbandsloveofindependencehadalonepreventedtheirexceedingtheirincome。

FivethousandpoundswassettledbymarriagearticlesonMrs。Bennetandthechildren。Butinwhatproportionsitshouldbedividedamongstthelatterdependedonthewilloftheparents。Thiswasonepoint，withregardtoLydia，atleast，whichwasnowtobesettled，andMr。Bennetcouldhavenohesitationinaccedingtotheproposalbeforehim。Intermsofgratefulacknowledgmentforthekindnessofhisbrother，thoughexpressedmostconcisely，hethendeliveredonpaperhisperfectapprobationofallthatwasdone，andhiswillingnesstofulfiltheengagementsthathadbeenmadeforhim。Hehadneverbeforesupposedthat，couldWickhambeprevailedontomarryhisdaughter，itwouldbedonewithsolittleinconveniencetohimselfasbythepresentarrangement。Hewouldscarcelybetenpoundsayeartheloserbythehundredthatwastobepaidthem;for，whatwithherboardandpocketallowance，andthecontinualpresentsinmoneywhichpassedtoherthroughhermothershands，Lydiasexpenseshadbeenverylittlewithinthatsum。

Thatitwouldbedonewithsuchtriflingexertiononhisside，too，wasanotherverywelcomesurprise;forhiswishatpresentwastohaveaslittletroubleinthebusinessaspossible。Whenthefirsttransportsofragewhichhadproducedhisactivityinseekingherwereover，henaturallyreturnedtoallhisformerindolence。Hisletterwassoondispatched;for，thoughdilatoryinundertakingbusiness，hewasquickinitsexecution。Hebeggedtoknowfurtherparticularsofwhathewasindebtedtohisbrother，butwastooangrywithLydiatosendanymessagetoher。

Thegoodnewsspreadquicklythroughthehouse，andwithproportionatespeedthroughtheneighbourhood。Itwasborneinthelatterwithdecentphilosophy。Tobesure，itwouldhavebeenmorefortheadvantageofconversationhadMissLydiaBennetcomeuponthetown;or，asthehappiestalternative，beensecludedfromtheworld，insomedistantfarmhouse。Buttherewasmuchtobetalkedofinmarryingher;andthegood-naturedwishesforherwell-doingwhichhadproceededbeforefromallthespitefuloldladiesinMerytonlostbutalittleoftheirspiritinthischangeofcircumstances，becausewithsuchanhusbandhermiserywasconsideredcertain。

ItwasafortnightsinceMrs。Bennethadbeendownstairs;butonthishappydaysheagaintookherseatattheheadofhertable，andinspiritsoppressivelyhigh。Nosentimentofshamegaveadamptohertriumph。Themarriageofadaughter，whichhadbeenthefirstobjectofherwishessinceJanewassixteen，wasnowonthepointofaccomplishment，andherthoughtsandherwordsranwhollyonthoseattendantsofelegantnuptials，finemuslins，newcarriages，andservants。Shewasbusilysearchingthroughtheneighbourhoodforapropersituationforherdaughter，and，withoutknowingorconsideringwhattheirincomemightbe，rejectedmanyasdeficientinsizeandimportance。

“HayeParkmightdo，”saidshe，“iftheGouldingscouldquitit—orthegreathouseatStoke，ifthedrawing-roomwerelarger;butAshworthistoofaroff!Icouldnotbeartohavehertenmilesfromme;andasforPulvisLodge，theatticsaredreadful。”

Herhusbandallowedhertotalkonwithoutinterruptionwhiletheservantsremained。Butwhentheyhadwithdrawn，hesaidtoher:“Mrs。Bennet，beforeyoutakeanyorallofthesehousesforyoursonanddaughter，letuscometoarightunderstanding。Intoonehouseinthisneighbourhoodtheyshallneverhaveadmittance。Iwillnotencouragetheimpudenceofeither，byreceivingthematLongbourn。”

Alongdisputefollowedthisdeclaration;butMr。Bennetwasfirm。Itsoonledtoanother;andMrs。Bennetfound，withamazementandhorror，thatherhusbandwouldnotadvanceaguineatobuyclothesforhisdaughter。Heprotestedthatsheshouldreceivefromhimnomarkofaffectionwhateverontheoccasion。Mrs。Bennetcouldhardlycomprehendit。Thathisangercouldbecarriedtosuchapointofinconceivableresentmentastorefusehisdaughteraprivilegewithoutwhichhermarriagewouldscarcelyseemvalid，exceededallshecouldbelievepossible。Shewasmorealivetothedisgracewhichherwantofnewclothesmustreflectonherdaughtersnuptials，thantoanysenseofshameatherelopingandlivingwithWickhamafortnightbeforetheytookplace。