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Chapter　VI　of　Volume　III　（Chap。　48）
　THE　whole　party　were　in　hopes　of　a　letter　from　Mr。　Bennet　the　next　morning；　but　the　post　came　in　without　bringing　a　single　line　from　him。　His　family　knew　him　to　be；　on　all　common　occasions；　a　most　negligent　and　dilatory　correspondent；　but　at　such　a　time　they　had　hoped　for　exertion。　They　were　forced　to　conclude　that　he　had　no　pleasing　intelligence　to　send；　but　even　of　that　they　would　have　been　glad　to　be　certain。　Mr。　Gardiner　had　waited　only　for　the　letters　before　he　set　off。
When　he　was　gone；　they　were　certain　at　least　of　receiving　constant　information　of　what　was　going　on；　and　their　uncle　promised；　at　parting；　to　prevail　on　Mr。　Bennet　to　return　to　Longbourn　as　soon　as　he　could；　to　the　great　consolation　of　his　sister；　who　considered　it　as　the　only　security　for　her　husband's　not　being　killed　in　a　duel。
Mrs。　Gardiner　and　the　children　were　to　remain　in　Hertfordshire　a　few　days　longer；　as　the　former　thought　her　presence　might　be　serviceable　to　her　nieces。　She　shared　in　their　attendance　on　Mrs。　Bennet；　and　was　a　great　comfort　to　them　in　their　hours　of　freedom。　Their　other　aunt　also　visited　them　frequently；　and　always；　as　she　said；　with　the　design　of　cheering　and　heartening　them　up；　though　as　she　never　came　without　reporting　some　fresh　instance　of　Wickham's　extravagance　or　irregularity；　she　seldom　went　away　without　leaving　them　more　dispirited　than　she　found　them。
All　Meryton　seemed　striving　to　blacken　the　man；　who；　but　three　months　before；　had　been　almost　an　angel　of　light。　He　was　declared　to　be　in　debt　to　every　tradesman　in　the　place；　and　his　intrigues；　all　honoured　with　the　title　of　seduction；　had　been　extended　into　every　tradesman's　family。　Every　body　declared　that　he　was　the　wickedest　young　man　in　the　world；　and　every　body　began　to　find　out　that　they　had　always　distrusted　the　appearance　of　his　goodness。　Elizabeth；　though　she　did　not　credit　above　half　of　what　was　said；　believed　enough　to　make　her　former　assurance　of　her　sister's　ruin　still　more　certain；　and　even　Jane；　who　believed　still　less　of　it；　became　almost　hopeless；　more　especially　as　the　time　was　now　come　when；　if　they　had　gone　to　Scotland；　which　she　had　never　before　entirely　despaired　of；　they　must　in　all　probability　have　gained　some　news　of　them。
Mr。　Gardiner　left　Longbourn　on　Sunday；　on　Tuesday；　his　wife　received　a　letter　from　him；　it　told　them　that　on　his　arrival；　he　had　immediately　found　out　his　brother；　and　persuaded　him　to　come　to　Gracechurch　street；　that　Mr。　Bennet　had　been　to　Epsom　and　Clapham　before　his　arrival；　but　without　gaining　any　satisfactory　information；　and　that　he　was　now　determined　to　enquire　at　all　the　principal　hotels　in　town；　as　Mr。　Bennet　thought　it　possible　they　might　have　gone　to　one　of　them；　on　their　first　coming　to　London；　before　they　procured　lodgings。　Mr。　Gardiner　himself　did　not　expect　any　success　from　this　measure；　but　as　his　brother　was　eager　in　it；　he　meant　to　assist　him　in　pursuing　it。　He　added　that　Mr。　Bennet　seemed　wholly　disinclined　at　present；　to　leave　London；　and　promised　to　write　again　very　soon。　There　was　also　a　postscript　to　this　effect：
‘‘I　have　written　to　Colonel　Forster　to　desire　him　to　find　out；　if　possible；　from　some　of　the　young　man's　intimates　in　the　regiment；　whether　Wickham　has　any　relations　or　connections　who　would　be　likely　to　know　in　what　part　of　the　town　he　has　now　concealed　himself。　If　there　were　any　one　that　one　could　apply　to　with　a　probability　of　gaining　such　a　clue　as　that；　it　might　be　of　essential　consequence。　At　present　we　have　nothing　to　guide　us。　Colonel　Forster　will；　I　dare　say；　do　every　thing　in　his　power　to　satisfy　us　on　this　head。　But；　on　second　thoughts；　perhaps　Lizzy　could　tell　us　what　relations　he　has　now　living　better　than　any　other　person。''　Elizabeth　was　at　no　loss　to　understand　from　whence　this　deference　for　her　authority　proceeded；　but　it　was　not　in　her　power　to　give　any　information　of　so　satisfactory　a　nature　as　the　compliment　deserved。
She　had　never　heard　of　his　having　had　any　relations；　except　a　father　and　mother；　both　of　whom　had　been　dead　many　years。　It　was　possible；　however；　that　some　of　his　companions　in　the　shire；　might　be　able　to　give　more　information；　and；　though　she　was　not　very　sanguine　in　expecting　it；　the　application　was　a　something　to　look　forward　to。
Every　day　at　Longbourn　was　now　a　day　of　anxiety；　but　the　most　anxious　part　of　each　was　when　the　post　was　expected。　The　arrival　of　letters　was　the　first　grand　object　of　every　morning's　impatience。　Through　letters；　whatever　of　good　or　bad　was　to　be　told　would　be　communicated；　and　every　succeeding　day　was　expected　to　bring　some　news　of　importance。
But　before　they　heard　again　from　Mr。　Gardiner；　a　letter　arrived　for　their　father　from　a　different　quarter　　from　Mr。　Collins；　which；　as　Jane　had　received　directions　to　open　all　that　came　for　him　in　his　absence；　she　accordingly　read；　and　Elizabeth；　who　knew　what　curiosities　his　letters　always　were；　looked　over　her；　and　read　it　likewise。　It　was　as　follows：
‘‘MY　DEAR　SIR；
I　feel　myself　called　upon　by　our　relationship；　and　my　situation　in　life；　to　condole　with　you　on　the　grievous　affliction　you　are　now　suffering　under；　of　which　we　were　yesterday　informed　by　a　letter　from　Hertfordshire。　Be　assured；　my　dear　Sir；　that　Mrs。　Collins　and　myself　sincerely　sympathise　with　you；　and　all　your　respectable　family；　in　your　present　distress；　which　must　be　of　the　bitterest　kind；　because　proceeding　from　a　cause　which　no　time　can　remove。　No　arguments　shall　be　wanting　on　my　part　that　can　alleviate　so　severe　a　misfortune；　or　that　may　comfort　you；　under　a　circumstance　that　must　be　of　all　others　most　afflicting　to　a　parent's　mind。　The　death　of　your　daughter　would　have　been　a　blessing　in　comparison　of　this。　And　it　is　the　more　to　be　lamented；　because　there　is　reason　to　suppose；　as　my　dear　Charlotte　informs　me；　that　this　licentiousness　of　behaviour　in　your　daughter　has　proceeded　from　a　faulty　degree　of　indulgence；　though　at　the　same　time；　for　the　consolation　of　yourself　and　Mrs。　Bennet；　I　am　inclined　to　think　that　her　own　disposition　must　be　naturally　bad；　or　she　could　not　be　guilty　of　such　an　enormity　at　so　early　an　age。　Howsoever　that　may　be；　you　are　grievously　to　be　pitied；　in　which　opinion　I　am　not　only　joined　by　Mrs。　Collins；　but　likewise　by　Lady　Catherine　and　her　daughter；　to　whom　I　have　related　the　affair。　They　agree　with　me　in　apprehending　that　this　false　step　in　one　daughter　will　be　injurious　to　the　fortunes　of　all　the　others；　for　who；　as　Lady　Catherine　herself　condescendingly　says；　will　connect　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；　&c。　&c。''
Mr。　Gardiner　did　not　write　again　till　he　had　received　an　answer　from　Colonel　Forster；　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　expences　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　intreaty　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　satisfaction　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。　Who　is　to　fight　Wickham；　and　make　him　marry　her；　if　he　comes　away？''
As　Mrs。　Gardiner　began　to　wish　to　be　at　home；　it　was　settled　that　she　and　her　children　should　go　to　London　at　the　same　time　that　Mr。　Bennet　came　from　it。　The　coach；　therefore；　took　them　the　first　stage　of　their　journey；　and　brought　its　master　back　to　Longbourn。
Mrs。　Gardiner　went　away　in　all　the　perplexity　about　Elizabeth　and　her　Derbyshire　friend　that　had　attended　her　from　that　part　of　the　world。　His　name　had　never　been　voluntarily　mentioned　before　them　by　her　niece；　and　the　kind　of　half…expectation　which　Mrs。　Gardiner　had　formed；　of　their　being　followed　by　a　letter　from　him；　had　ended　in　nothing。　Elizabeth　had　received　none　since　her　return；　that　could　come　from　Pemberley。
The　present　unhappy　state　of　the　family；　rendered　any　other　excuse　for　the　lowness　of　her　spirits　unnecessary；　nothing；　therefore；　could　be　fairly　conjectured　from　that；　though　Elizabeth；　who　was　by　this　time　tolerably　well　acquainted　with　her　own　feelings；　was　perfectly　aware　that；　had　she　known　nothing　of　Darcy；　she　could　have　borne　the　dread　of　Lydia's　infamy　somewhat　better。　It　would　have　spared　her；　she　thought；　one　sleepless　night　out　of　two。
When　Mr。　Bennet　arrived；　he　had　all　the　appearance　of　his　usual　philosophic　composure。　He　said　as　little　as　he　had　ever　been　in　the　habit　of　saying；　made　no　mention　of　the　business　that　had　taken　him　away；　and　it　was　some　time　before　his　daughters