第649页 / 共817页

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.