Pride and Prejudice Part 20

Summary

Jane Austen Stories — Pride and Prejudice Part 20

Host: Dame Julie Andrews (Narrator)
Date: December 5, 2025
Podcast Network: Noiser

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dame Julie Andrews continues reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in its original form, picking up as the Bennet family reels from the scandal of Lydia Bennet’s elopement with Mr. Wickham. The family is anxiously awaiting news from London, uncertain of Lydia’s fate and fearing ruination. Letters fly back and forth, family tensions rise, and anxious hope mingles with despair—until a missive from Mr. Gardiner suggests a possible (if imperfect) resolution.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lingering Uncertainty & Community Judgment

• The episode opens with the Bennet family hoping for news from Mr. Bennet, who is searching for Lydia in London, but no letter arrives.

• Mrs. Gardiner stays with the Bennet daughters to comfort them, while Mrs. Phillips continues to bring dispiriting news of Wickham’s debts and misbehavior.

• The entire community of Meryton begins to slander Wickham, swiftly turning on the young man beloved only months earlier.

  "All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who but three months before had been almost an angel of light." (Julie Andrews, 04:44)

2. Search Efforts & Growing Despair

• Mr. Gardiner travels to London to aid Mr. Bennet; their inquiries at hotels and through military contacts turn up nothing.
• Elizabeth and Jane grow increasingly hopeless, realizing that Lydia and Wickham seem to have evaded all detection, and that hopes for a hasty marriage are fading.

3. Mr. Collins’ Absurd Condolence Letter

• A letter from Mr. Collins expresses his “condolence,” managing both to blame the Bennets for Lydia’s “licentiousness” and to congratulate himself for avoiding marriage into their now-disgraced family.

  "The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this." (Mr. Collins' letter read by Julie Andrews, 09:51)

  "Let me advise you then, my dear sir, to console yourself ... throw off your unworthy child from your affection forever..." (Mr. Collins' letter, 12:26)

4. Wickham’s True Character and Debts Revealed

• It is confirmed that Wickham has no close relations, is a known “gamester,” and is deeply in debt—over £1,000 in “debts of honour” and more in town. This information horrifies the family, and the search grinds on with little hope.

  "A gamester, she cried. This is wholly unexpected. I had not an idea of it." (Jane, 13:31)

5. Mr. Bennet’s Return & Ironic Composure

• Mr. Bennet, exhausted and “spiritless,” returns home, convinced at Elizabeth’s urging that the fault is his own for not having curbed his daughter’s wildness.

• He dryly jokes about future restrictions on his other daughters and the family’s new vigilance regarding young officers.

  "No officer is to ever enter my house again, nor even to pass through the village. Balls will be absolutely prohibited unless you stand up with one of your sisters." (Mr. Bennet, 19:42)

6. Dramatic News: Lydia and Wickham Found

• An urgent letter from Mr. Gardiner arrives—the couple has been found, though not married, but arrangements can be made if the Bennet family agrees to certain financial settlements (£100 per year for Lydia, her share of the inheritance, etc.)

  "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 these engagements which I have ventured to make on your side, I hope it will not be long before they are." (Letter from Mr. Gardiner, read by Julie Andrews, 25:26)

  • Jane takes hope:

    "Then it is as I always hoped ... they are married." (Jane, 25:26)

  • But Elizabeth, with Mr. Bennet, understands the businesslike nature of the agreement:

    "He is such a dreadful man ... there is nothing else to be done." (Elizabeth, Mr. Bennet, 29:13) "Wickham’s a fool if he takes him with a farthing less than £10,000." (Mr. Bennet, 30:36)

7. Reflections and Mixed Joy

• The sisters reflect on the nature of the arrangement, understanding that their uncle Gardiner must have made significant financial sacrifices. The happiness is muted by the low expectations for Lydia’s future happiness.

  "We are forced to rejoice. Oh, Lydia." (Elizabeth, 31:13)
  "Her taking her home and affording her their personal protection and countenance is such a sacrifice ... as years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge." (Elizabeth, 32:17)

8. Mrs. Bennet’s Clueless Euphoria

• Mrs. Bennet is overjoyed at the prospect of Lydia’s marriage, immediately thinking of clothes and celebrations, showing little regard for the gravity of the circumstances.

• She is thrilled at the notion of a daughter married at 16, and the family’s social rescue, and becomes engrossed in planning shopping trips and a wedding party.

  "My dear, dear Lydia, she cried. This is delightful indeed. She will be married. I shall see her again. She will be married at 16. My good kind brother. I knew he would manage everything." (Mrs. Bennet, 37:27) "Oh, Mrs. Wickham, how well it sounds. And she was only 16 last June." (Mrs. Bennet, 38:51)

9. Elizabeth’s Sobering Realism

• Elizabeth removes herself from the celebrations, reflecting in her room that Lydia’s marriage “must be at best be bad enough,” but is grateful they avoided total ruin.

  "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." (Julie Andrews as Elizabeth, 41:19)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Wickham’s rapid fall from grace:
  “All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who but three months before had been almost an angel of light.” (04:44, Narrator/Julie Andrews)
• Mr. Collins’ tactless condolence:
  “The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this.” (09:51, Mr. Collins’ Letter)
• Jane’s shock at Wickham’s gambling:
  “A gamester, she cried. This is wholly unexpected.” (13:31, Jane)
• Mr. Bennet’s dry humor:
  “Balls will be absolutely prohibited unless you stand up with one of your sisters. And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent 10 minutes of every day in a rational manner.” (19:42, Mr. Bennet)
• Mrs. Bennet’s delight:
  “My dear, dear Lydia ... She will be married. I shall see her again ... Mrs. Wickham, how well it sounds. And she was only 16 last June.” (37:27, Mrs. Bennet)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Recap & Opening — Lydia’s Disappearance & Family Turmoil: 01:22–03:00
• Meryton’s Reaction/Reputation Ruined: 04:44–05:23
• Efforts to Find Lydia & Wickham (Correspondence): 06:06–08:45
• Mr. Collins’ Letter — Comic Relief: 09:17–12:43
• Wickham’s Debts Revealed: 13:04–13:31
• Mr. Bennet’s Return & Reflections: 17:14–20:30
• Express News from London — Lydia & Wickham Found: 22:20–30:36
• Reflections on the Outcome (Elizabeth & Jane): 31:13–33:10
• Mrs. Bennet’s Joyful Response: 35:39–39:43
• Elizabeth’s Realism & Closing Reflections: 41:19–42:12
• Preview of Next Episode: 42:12–43:13

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Conclusion & Next Episode Preview

The episode captures the consternation, anxiety, and ultimate mixed relief of the Bennet family as Lydia’s scandal is contained but at the cost of a hasty, dubious marriage. Mrs. Bennet’s superficial joy contrasts with Elizabeth’s realism, as the family thanks Mr. Gardiner for his brave intervention.

Next: Lydia is married in London; the couple returns to Longbourn to a “mixed reception,” and Lydia lets slip a secret that leaves Elizabeth astonished.

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Transcript

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[Narrator (Julie Andrews)]

Welcome to Jane Austen Stories. I'm Julie Andrews and from the Noiser Podcast Network. This is Pride and prejudice part 20.

In the previous episode, the Bennet family were shaken by Scarlet scandalous news. While still in Derbyshire, Elizabeth received letters from Jane revealing that her 16 year old sister Lydia had run off with the scoundrel and liar, Mr. Wickham. Worse still, Jane suspects he has no real intention of marrying her. Fearing for Lydia's reputation, Elizabeth was overcome with worry. In the midst of her distress, however, she found an unexpected source of comfort. Mr. Darcy. But she had no time to dwell on his kindly behaviour or their growing closeness as she was forced to rush back to Longbourn to be with her family. Upon her return home, Lizzie found everyone in a state of great anxiety. What will be the fate of the youngest Bennet girl? Can she be found in time before her future is ruined? Now, with Mr. Bennett in London searching for his daughter, we rejoin the action at Longbourn.

From the noiza podcast network, this is pride and prejud.

Chapter 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 slow correspondent, but at such a time they had hoped for more effort on his part. 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 departed for London. 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 Ms. Mrs. Bennet, who considered it as the only security for her husband's not being killed in a duel. Mrs. Gardiner and her 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, Mrs. Phillips, also visited them frequently and always, as she said, with a 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. Mr. Wickham 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. Everybody declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world, and everybody 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 Wickham and Lydia had gone to Scotland, which Jane had never before entirely despaired of, the family 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 his brother and persuaded him to come to Grace church 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 inquire 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 also 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 anyone 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 everything in his power to satisfy us on this head. But, on second thoughts, perhaps Lizzie could tell us what relations he has 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. 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 militia might be able to give more information, and though she was not very sanguine in expecting it, the application was 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 had heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived from 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 argument 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 proposal of mine last November. For had it been accepted, I would 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 forever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence.

I am, dear sir. Etc. Etc.

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 acquaintances 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 deaths behind him to have very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that more than £1,000 would be necessary to clear his expenses 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 entreaty 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.

Misses Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her Derbyshire friend Mr. Darcy, 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 home, 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 had courage to speak of.

Was not till the afternoon when he joined them at tea, that Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject. And then, on her briefly expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured, he replied, say nothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, and I ought to feel it. You must not be too severe upon yourself, replied Elizabeth. You may well warn me against such an evil, said he. Human nature is so prone to fall into it. No, Lizzy. Let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression. It will pass away soon enough. Do you suppose them to be in London? Asked Lizzie. Yes, where else can they be so well concealed, replied Mr. Bennet. And Lydia used to want to go to London, added Kitty. She is happy then, said her father dryly, and her residence there will probably be of some duration.

Then, after a short silence, he continued, lizzie, I bear you no ill will for being justified in your advice to me last May, which, considering the event, shows some greatness of mind. They were interrupted by Jane, who came to fetch her mother's tea. This is a parade. Cried he, which does one good. It gives such an elegance to misfortune. Another day I will do the same. I will sit in my library in my nightcap and powdering gown and give as much trouble as I can. Or perhaps I may defer it till Kitty runs away. I'm not going to run away, Papa, said Kitty fretfully. If I should ever go to Brighton, I would behave better than Lydia. You go to Brighton, replied her father. I would not trust you so near it as Eastbourne for £50. No, Kitty. I have at least learned to be cautious and you will feel the effects of it. No officer is to ever enter my house again, nor even to pass through the village. Balls will be absolutely prohibited unless you stand up with one of your sisters. And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent 10 minutes of every day in a rational manner.

Kitty, who took all these threats in a serious light, began to cry.

Well, well, said he, do not make yourself unhappy. If you are a good girl for the next 10 years, I will take you to a military parade at the end of them.

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[Narrator (Julie Andrews)]

Mobile.Com chapter 49.

Two days after Mr. Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming towards them and concluding that she came to call them to their mother, went forward to meet her. But instead of the expected summons, when they approached her, she said to Ms. Jane Bennett, I beg your pardon, madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes that you might have 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 madam. Cried Mrs. Hill in great astonishment. Don't you know there is an express messenger 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 thence to the library. Their father was in neither, 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 is 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, replied Mr. Bennet. Well, and what news does it bring, good or bad? What is there of good news to be expected? Said he, taking the letter from his pocket, but perhaps you 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. Lizzie read. Gracechurch Street Monday August 2nd.

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 reserve till we meet, it is enough to know that they are discovered. I have seen them both.

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 these 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 £5,000 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, 100 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 to be believed. 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 our solicitor, Haggerston, for preparing a proper settlement. There will be not the smallest occasion for your coming to town again. Therefore stay quietly at Longbourn, 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 decided upon. Yours, etc. Edward Gardiner.

Is it possible? Cried Elizabeth when she had finished. Can it be possible that he will marry her? Wickham is not so undeserving then, as we have thought him, said Jane. My dear father, I congratulate you, and have you answered the letter? Said Elizabeth. No, but it must be done soon, replied Mr. Bennet 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 be complied with. Complied with. Cried Mr. Bennet. I am only ashamed of his asking so little. And they must marry yet. He is such a dreadful man, replied Lizzie. Yes, yes, they must marry, replied her father. 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 am I ever to pay him.

Money? My uncle. Cried Jane. What do you mean, sir? I mean that no man in his proper senses would marry Lydia on so slight a temptation as 100 a year during my life and 50 after I am gone.

That is very true, said Elizabeth, 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 him with a farthing less than £10,000. I shall be sorry to think so ill of him in the very beginning of our relationship. £10,000. Cried Elizabeth. Heaven forbid. How is half such a sum to be repaid? Mr. Bennet 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. Cried Elizabeth, as soon as they were by themselves. How strange this is. And for this we are to be thankful that they should marry. Small as is their chance of happiness, and wretched as is his character, 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 £10,000 or anything like it, has been advanced. He has children of his own, and may have more. How could he spare half £10,000?

If you are ever able to learn what Wickham's deaths have been, said, Elizabeth, 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 sixpence of his own. The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be repaid. Their 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 endeavour 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 has 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 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.

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[Narrator (Julie Andrews)]

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, coolly replied, just as you please.

May we take my uncle's letter to read to her? Take whatever you like and get away, replied Mr. Bennet.

Elizabeth took the letter from his writing table, and the girls went upstairs together.

Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet. One communication would therefore do for all.

After a slight preparation for good news, the letter was read aloud.

Mrs. Bennet 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 well being, 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 16. My good kind brother. I knew how it would be. I knew he would manage everything. Oh, how I long to see her, and to see dear Wickham too. But the clothes, the wedding clothes. I shall write to my sister Gardiner about them directly. Lizzy, 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. Oh, my dear, dear Lydia, how merry we shall be together when we meet.

Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give her 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, added Jane 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 might 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. Oh, Mrs. Wickham, how well it sounds. And she was only 16 last June. My dear Jane, I am such a flutter that I am sure I can't write, so I will dictate, and you write for me when 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 Phillips. And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Oh, Kitty, run down and order the carriage. An airing would do me a great deal of good, I'm sure. Girls, can I do anything for you in Meryton? 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 merry 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 be 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.

In the next next episode, the Bennet family avoid ruin as Mr. Wickham at long last marries Lydia. After a small wedding in London, the couple return to a mixed reception at Longbourn. While Mrs. Bennet is delighted to see her favorite daughter married, Elizabeth struggles to forgive her reckless sister and wicked brother in law. And Lydia reveals a secret that leaves Lizzie totally astonished. That's next time on Jane Austen Stories, Pride and Prejudice.

You can listen to the next two episodes of Pride and Prejudice right now without waiting by subscribing to Noiser plus, head to www.noiza.comscriptions for more information or click the link in the episode. Description.

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