“Then it is as I always hoped,”cried Jane;“they are married!”

“No;but it must be done soon.”

“Complied with!I am only ashamed of his asking so little.”

“Money!My uncle!”cried Jane,“what do you mean,sir?”

“Let me write for you,”said Jane,“if you dislike the trouble yourself.”

“Well,and what news does it bring―good or bad?”

“What do you mean,Hill?We have heard nothing from town.”

Away ran the girls,too eager to get in to have time for speech. They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast-room; from thence to the library;their father was in neither;and they were on the point of seeking him upstairs with their mother,when they were met by the butler,who said:

“What is there of good to be expected?”said he, taking the letter from his pocket.“But perhaps you would like to read it.”

“And have you answered the letter?”cried Elizabeth.

And so saying,he turned back with them,and walked towards the house.

“Wickham is not so undeserving,then,as we thought him,”said her sister.“My dear father,I congratulate you.”