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"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. 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. My dear, dear Lydia! How merry we

shall be together when we meet!"

Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give 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," she added, "in a

great measure to his kindness. We are persuaded that he has

pledged himself to assist Mr. Wickham with money."