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You're built to win it. Welcome to snoozecast, the podcast designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snuescast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by A Happy Humor. Tonight we shall read the next part to Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen. In the last episode, much is changing as the Bennett family worries about Lydia's fate. Mr. Bennett has decided that Elizabeth was right, and he must be stricter with his remaining young daughters. Mrs. Bennett is besides herself with self-pity and grief.

Jane and Elizabeth spend much of their time together wondering what they should have done differently to avoid Wiggum's wicked influence on their family. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed.

Now, take a few deep breaths. Chapter 49

Two days after Mr. Bennett's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming towards them. She said to Miss Bennett, I beg your pardon, Madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes you might have got some good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask. What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from town. Dear Madame, Christ Mrs. Hill in great astonishment, don't you know there is an express come for master from Mr. Gardiner? He has been here this half hour, and Master has had a letter. Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for speech. They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast room, from then to the library. Their father was in Nighther, and they were on the point of seeking him upstairs with their mother when they were met by the butler who said, if you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking towards the little cops. Upon this information, they instantly passed through the hall once more and ran across the lawn after their father, who was deliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of the paddock. Jane, who was not so light, nor so much in the habit of running as Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting for breath, came up with him, and eagerly cried out, Oh, Papa, what news? What news have you heard from my uncle? Yes, I have had a letter from him by express. Well, and what news does it bring? Good or bad? What is there of good to be expected?" Said he, taking the letter from his pocket, but perhaps he would like to read it. Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand. Jane now came up. Read it aloud, said their father, for I hardly know myself what it is about. Grace Church Street, Monday, August 2. 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 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 reserved till we meet. It is enough to know they are discovered. I have seen them both. Perhaps you would like to read it. Then it is as I always hoped, cried Jane. They are married." 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 Haggurston for preparing a proper settlement. There will not be the smallest occasion for your coming to town again. Therefore, stay quietly at longborn and depend on my diligence and care. Send back your answer as soon as you can and be careful to write explicitly. We have judged it best that my niece should be married from this house, of which I hope you will approve. She comes to us today. I shall write again as soon as anything more is determined on, yours, etc. Edward Gardiner. Is it possible, Critalisabeth, when she had finished? Can it be possible that he will marry her? Wiccom is not so undeserving then, as we have thought him," said her sister. My dear father, I congratulate you. And if you answered the letter," said Elizabeth. No, but it must be done soon. Most earnestly did she then entreat him to lose no more time before he wrote. "'Oh, my dear father,' she cried, come back and write immediately, consider how important every moment is in such a case. "'Let me write for you,' said Jane, if you dislike the trouble yourself.

I dislike it very much," he replied, but it must be done. And so saying, he turned back with them and walked towards the house. And may I ask, said Elizabeth, but the terms, I suppose, must be complied with. Complied with, I am only ashamed of his asking so little. And they must marry, yet he is such a man. Yes, yes, they must marry. There is nothing else to be done. But there are two things that I want very much to know. One is how much money your uncle has laid down to bring it about, and the other how I am ever to pay him. Money? My uncle? Crite Jane. What do you mean, sir?

I mean that no man in his proper senses would marry Lydia on so slight attemptation as one hundred a year during my life and fifty after I'm gone. That is very true, Settle Isabeth.

Though it had not occurred to me before, his debts to be discharged and something still to remain? Oh, it must be my uncle's doings. Generous, good man, I am afraid he has distressed himself. A small sum could not do all this. No,,' said her father. Wickham's a fool if he takes her with a farthing less than ten thousand pounds. I should be sorry to think so ill of him in the very beginning of our relationship.' Ten thousand pounds, heaven forbid, how is half such a sum to be repaid?

Mr. Bennett made no answer, and each of them, deep in thought, continued silent till they reached the house. Their father then went to the library to write, and the girls walked into the breakfast room and they are really to be married, Critalisabeth, as soon as they were by themselves. How strange this is and for With this we are to be thankful that they should marry small as is their chance of happiness and rush it as is his character, who we are forced to rejoice, oh Lydia. I comfort myself with thinking," replied Jane, that he certainly would not marry Lydia, if he had not a real regard for her. Though our kind uncle has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that ten thousand pounds or anything like it has been advanced. He has children of his own

and may have more. How could he spare half ten thousand pounds? If we are ever able to learn what Wickham's debts have been, and how much is settled on his side on our sister, we shall exactly know what Mr. Gardiner has done for them, because Wickham has not six pence of his own. The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be required it. They're taking her home and affording her their personal protection and countenance is such a sacrifice to her advantage as years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge. By this time she is actually with them, if such goodness does not make her miserable now, she will never deserve to be happy. What a meeting for her when she first sees my aunt. We must endeavor to forget all that has passed on either side," said Jane. "'I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is a proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of thinking. Their mutual affection will steady them, and I flatter myself, they will settle so quietly, and live in so rational a manner, as may in time make their past imprudence forgotten. Their conduct has been such," replied Elizabeth, as neither you nor I nor anybody can ever forget. It is useless to talk of it. It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood perfectly ignorant of what had happened. They went to the library, therefore, and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make it known to her. He was writing and, without raising his head,

Kolei replied,

just as you please. May we take my uncle's letter to read to her? Take whatever you like and get away. Elizabeth took the letter from his writing table and they went upstairs together. Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennett. One communication would, therefore, do for all. After a slight preparation for good news, the letter was read aloud. Bennett could hardly contain herself. As soon as Jane had read Mr. Gardiner's hope of Lydia's being soon married, her joy burst forth, and every following sentence added to its exuberance. She was now in an irritation as violent from delight as she had ever been fidgety from alarm and vexation. To know that her daughter would be married was enough. She was disturbed by no fear for her Felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct. My dear dear Lydia, she cried, this is delightful indeed, she will be married, I shall see her again, she will be married at sixteen. My good kind brother. I knew how it would be. I knew he would manage everything. How I long to see her and to see dear Wickham too. But the clothes, the wedding clothes, I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly. Lizzie, my dear, run down to your father and ask him how 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 endeavored to give some relief to the violence of these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. Gardiner's behavior 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 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 thing should be ordered immediately." She was then proceeding to all the particulars of Calico, Muslim, and Cambrec, 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 Mary-Tinn," she said, as soon as I am dressed until the good, good news

to my sister Phillips.

And as I am dressed, until the good, good news to my sister Phillips. And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage, and Airing would do me a great good of deal, I'm sure. Girls, can I do anything for you in Maryton? Oh, here comes hill. My dear hill, have you heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married, and you shall all have a bowl of punch to make Mary at her wedding." Mrs. Hill began instantly to express her joy. Elizabeth received her congratulations amongst the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took refuge in her own room that she might think with freedom. Poor Lydia's situation must at best be bad enough, But that it was no worse she had need to be thankful. She felt it so, and though, in looking forward, neither rational happiness, nor worldly prosperity could be justly expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had feared only two hours ago. She felt all the advantages of what they had gained. Chapter 50. Mr. Bennett had very often wished before this period of his life that, instead of spending his all-income, he had laid by an annual sum for the better provision of his children and of his wife if she survived him. He now wished it more than ever. Had he done his duty in that respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever of honor or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place. He was certainly concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law, and he was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of his assistance and to discharge the obligation as soon as possible. When First Mr. Bennett had married, economy was held to be perfectly useless. For, of course, they were to have a son. This son was to join in cutting off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widow and younger children would by that means be provided for. Five daughters successively entered the world, but yet the sun was to come, and Mrs. Bennett, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that he would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then too late to be saving. Mrs. Bennett had no turn for economy, and her husband's love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income. Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennett and the children. But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the latter, dependent on the will of the parents. This was one point, with regard to Lydia at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr. Bennett could have no hesitation in a seeding to the proposal before him. In terms of grateful acknowledgement for the kindness of his brother, though expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfill the engagements that had been made for him. He had never before supposed that could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter. It would be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present arrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds

a year the loser by the hundred that was to be paid them for what with her board and pocket allowance and the continual presence in money which passed to her through her mother's Lidia's expenses had been very little within that sum,

that it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side too, was another very welcome surprise. For his chief wish at present was to have as little trouble in the business as possible. When the first transports of rage which had produced his activity and seeking her were over, he naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter was soon dispatched. For though dilatory and undertaking business, He was quick in its execution. He begged to know further particulars of what he was indebted to his brother, but was too angry with Lydia to send any message to her. The good news quickly spread through the house, and with proportionate speed through the neighborhood. It was born in the latter with decent philosophy. To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage of conversation, had Miss Lydia Bennett come upon the town, or, as the happiest alternative, been secluded from the world in some distant farmhouse. But there was much to be talked of in marrying her, and the good-natured wishes for her well-doing, which had preceded before from all the spiteful old ladies in Mariton, lost but little of their spirit in this change of circumstances. Because with such a husband, her misery was considered certain. It was a fortnight since Mrs. Bennett had been downstairs. But on this happy day, she again took her seat at the head of her table and in spirits oppressively high. No sentiment of shame gave a damp to her triumph. The marriage of a daughter, which had been the first object of her wishes since chain was sixteen, was now on the point of accomplishment. And her thoughts and her words ran wholly on those attendants of elegant nuptials, fine muslins, new carriages, and servants. She was busily searching through the neighborhood for a proper situation for her daughter, and without knowing or considering what their income might be, rejected many as deficient and size and importance. Hey, Park might do," said she, if the goldings would quit it, or the great-house at stoke, if the drawing-room were larger, but Ashworth is too far off. I could not bear to have her ten miles from me, and as for pervous lodge, the headaches are dreadful. Her husband allowed her to talk on, without inter while the servants remained. But when they had withdrawn, he said to her, Mrs. Bennett, before you take any or all of these houses for your son and daughter, let us come to a right understanding. Into one house in this

neighborhood they shall never have admittance. I will not encourage the imprudence of either by receiving them at Longborn. A long dispute followed this declaration, but Mr. Bennett was firm. It soon led to another, and Mrs. Bennett found, with amazement and horror, that her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his daughter. He protested that she should receive from him no mark of affection, whatever on the occasion. Mrs. Bennett could hardly comprehend it, that his anger could be carried to such a point of inconceivable resentment as to refuse his daughter a privilege without without which her marriage would scarcely seem valid, exceeded all that she could believe possible. She was more alive to the disgrace, which her want of new clothes must reflect on her daughter's nuptials, than to any sense of shame at her aloping and living with Wickham a fortnight before they took place. Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for his sister. For since her marriage would so shortly give the proper termination to the allotment, they might hope to conceal its unfavorable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot.

She had no fear of its spreading farther through his means. There were few people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended. But at the same time, there was no one whose knowledge of a sister's fraility would have mortified her so much. Not, however, from any fear of disadvantage from it individually to herself, for at any rate, there seemed a gulf impassable between them. Had Lydia's marriage been concluded on the most honorable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family where every othervryother objuction would now be added in alliance

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