Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 50

Mr. Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life

that, instead of spending his whole 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 honour 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 seriously 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 he could.

When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was held to be

perfectly useless, for, of course, they were to have a son. The

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 son was to come; and Mrs. Bennet, 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. Bennet 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.

Bennet and the children. But in what proportions it should be

divided amongst the latter depended on the will of the parents.

This was one point, with regard to Lydia, at least, which was

now to be settled, and Mr. Bennet could have no hesitation in

acceding to the proposal before him. In terms of grateful

acknowledgment 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 fulfil

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