“My dear Brother,

“At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, and such

as, upon the whole, I hope will give{370} you satisfaction. Soon after

you left me on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to find out in what

part of London they were. The particulars I reserve till we meet.

It is enough to know they are discovered: I have seen them

both——”

[Image unavailable.]


“But perhaps you would like to read it”

[Copyright 1894 by George Allen.]

“Then it is as I always hoped,” cried Jane: “they are married!{371}”
Elizabeth read on: “I have seen them both. They are not married,

nor can I find there was any intention of being so; but if you are

willing to perform the engagements which I have ventured to make on

your side, I hope it will not be long before they are. All that is

required of you is, to assure to your daughter, by settlement, her

equal share of the five thousand pounds, secured among your

children after the decease of yourself and my sister; and,

moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, during your

life, one hundred pounds per annum. These are conditions which,

considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, as

far as I thought myself privileged, for you. I shall send this by

express, that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer. You

will easily comprehend, from these particulars, that Mr. Wickham’s

circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to

be. The world has been deceived in that respect; and I am happy to

say, there will be some little money, even when all his debts are

discharged, to settle on my niece, in addition to her own fortune.

If, as I conclude will be the case, you send me full powers to act

in your name throughout the whole of this business, I will

immediately give directions to Haggerston for preparing a proper

settlement. There will not be the smallest occasion for your coming