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Mr. Bennet made no answer; and each of them, deep in thought,

continued silent till they reached the house. Their father then

went to the library to write, and the girls walked into the

breakfast-room.

"And they are really to be married!" cried Elizabeth, as soon as

they were by themselves. "How strange this is! and for this we

are to be thankful. That they should marry, small as is their

chance of happiness, and wretched as is his character, we are

forced to rejoice! Oh, Lydia!"

"I comfort myself with thinking," replied Jane, "that he

certainly would not marry Lydia, if he had not a real regard for

her. Though our kind uncle has done something towards clearing

him, I cannot believe that ten thousand pounds, or anything like

it, has been advanced. He has children of his own, and may have

more. How could he spare half ten thousand pounds?"