Pride and Prejudice — Chapter Fifty (Abridged)

Mr. Bennet often wished he had saved money over the years instead of spending everything he earned. Now he regretted it more than ever. If he had saved, Lydia wouldn't have needed his brother-in-law's help to arrange her marriage. He wanted to know exactly how much money Mr. Gardiner had spent, so he could pay him back as soon as possible.

When Mr. Bennet first got married, he and his wife had always expected to have a son who would inherit their property. But after five daughters, no son ever came, and by the time they realized this, it was too late to start saving. The family had five thousand pounds set aside for Mrs. Bennet and the children, though how it would be divided was left up to the parents.

Mr. Bennet accepted Mr. Gardiner's financial arrangement gratefully, writing a short letter of thanks. He realized, with some relief, that the situation wouldn't cost him nearly as much as he'd feared, since Lydia's yearly allowance already covered nearly the full amount required.

Once his anger faded, Mr. Bennet quickly returned to his usual relaxed and lazy nature. He sent his letter promptly, though he refused to write anything directly to Lydia, still too upset with her behavior.

News of the coming marriage spread quickly through the neighborhood. People reacted calmly, though many secretly believed Lydia would regret marrying such an unreliable husband.

After two weeks confined to her room, Mrs. Bennet finally came downstairs, thrilled and completely without shame. She excitedly began searching for houses nearby for the new couple, ignoring how much money they might actually have. When Mr. Bennet heard her plans, he firmly interrupted, saying Lydia and Wickham would never be welcome at Longbourn. A heated argument followed, and Mrs. Bennet was shocked to learn her husband also refused to pay for Lydia's wedding clothes. She was far more upset about the missing new clothes than about Lydia's scandalous behavior itself.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, deeply regretted having told Mr. Darcy about Lydia's disgraceful situation. She worried he would want nothing more to do with her family now, especially since Wickham himself would become closely connected to them. Reflecting on everything, Elizabeth painfully realized that Darcy was exactly the kind of husband who would have truly suited her — patient, intelligent, and steady, someone whose calm nature could have balanced her own lively personality. But now, she believed, it was too late.

Soon, Mr. Gardiner wrote again, explaining that Wickham had decided to leave the militia and join a different regiment stationed far away in the north of England.

Mrs. Bennet was initially upset that Lydia would be moving so far away, missing her daughter's company already. Mr. Bennet firmly refused to let the couple visit Longbourn at first, but Jane and Elizabeth persuaded him otherwise, arguing it would be best for Lydia's reputation. Reluctantly, Mr. Bennet agreed to let them visit briefly before their journey north.