much he will give her. Stay, stay, I will go myself. Ring the bell,

Kitty, for Hill. I will put on my things in a moment. My dear, dear

Lydia! How merry we shall be together when we meet!”
Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of

these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr.

Gardiner’s behaviour laid them all under.
“For we must attribute this happy conclusion,” she added, “in a great

measure to his kindness. We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to

assist Mr. Wickham with money.”
“Well,” cried her mother, “it is all very right; who should do it but

her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children

must have had all his money, you know; and it is the first time we have

ever had anything from him except a few presents. Well! I am so happy.

In a short time, I shall have a daughter married. Mrs. Wickham! How well

it sounds! And she was only sixteen last June. My dear Jane, I{376} am in

such a flutter, that I am sure I can’t write; so I will dictate, and you

write for me. We will settle with your father about the money

afterwards; but the things should be ordered immediately.”
She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico, muslin, and

cambric, and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had

not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait till her

father was at leisure to be consulted. One day’s delay, she observed,

would be of small importance; and her mother was too happy to be quite

so obstinate as usual. Other schemes, too, came into her head.
“I will go to Meryton,” said she, “as soon as I am dressed, and tell the

good, good news to my sister Philips. And as I come back, I can call on

Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage. An

airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure. Girls, can I do

anything for you in Meryton? Oh! here comes Hill. My dear Hill, have you