“Take whatever you like,and get away.”

“My dear, dear Lydia!”she cried.“This is delightful indeed! She will be married!I shall see her again!She will be married at sixteen!My good,kind brother!I knew how it would be.I knew he would manage everything!How I long to see her!and to see dear Wickham too!But the clothes,the wedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly.Lizzy,my dear, run down to your father,and ask him how much he will give her. Stay,stay,I will go myself.Ring the bell,Kitty,for Hill.I will put on my things in a moment.My dear,dear Lydia!How merry we shall be together when we meet!”

Mr.Bennet made no answer,and each of them,deep in thought, continued silent till they reached the house.Their father then went on to the library to write, and the girls walked into the breakfast-room.

“Well,”cried her mother,“it is all very right; who should do it but her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must have had all his money,you know;and it is the first time we have ever had anything from him, except a few presents.Well!I am so happy!In a short time I shall have a daughter married.Mrs.Wickham!How well it sounds!And she was only sixteen last June.My dear Jane,I am in such a flutter, that I am sure I can't write;so I will dictate,and you write for me. We will settle with your father about the money afterwards;but the things should be ordered immediately.”