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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?"