Page 617 of 817

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.