第110章

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“I feel myself called upon,by our relationship,and my situation life, to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now sufferg under, of which we were yesterday formed by a letter from Hertfordshire. Be assured, my dear sir, that Mrs. Colls and myself scerely sympathise with you and all your respectable family, your present distress,which must be of the bitterest kd, because proceedg from a cause which no time can remove.No arguments shall be wantg on my part that can alleviate so severe a misfortune—or that may comfort you,under a circumstance that must be of all others the most afflictg to a parent''s md.The death of your daughter would have been a blessg comparison of this.And it is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to suppose as my dear Charlotte forms me, that this licentiousness of behaviour your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of dulgence; though, at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am cled to thk that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity, at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, you are grievously to be pitied; which opion I am not only joed by Mrs. Colls,but likewise by Lady Cathere and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair.They agree with me apprehendg that this false step one daughter will be jurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as Lady Cathere herself condescendgly says,will connect themselves with such a family?And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect, with augmented satisfaction,on a certa event of last November;for had it been otherwise,I must have been volved all your sorrow and disgrace.Let me then advise you,dear sir,to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever,and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heous offense.

“I AM,DEAR SIR,ETC.,ETC.”

Mr.Garder did not write aga till he had received an answer from Colonel Forster; and then he had nothg of a pleasant nature to send. It was not known that Wickham had a sgle relationship with whom he kept up any connection, and it was certa that he had no near one livg.His former acquatances had been numerous;but sce he had been the militia,it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them.There was no one,therefore,who could be poted out as likely to give any news of him.And the wretched state of his own fances, there was a very powerful motive for secrecy, addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia''s relations,for it had just transpired that he had left gamg debts behd him to a very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expenses at Brighton. He owed a good deal town, but his debts of honour were still more formidable.Mr.Garder 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.Garder added his letter,that they might expect to see their father at home on the followg day, which was Saturday. Rendered spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours,he had yielded to his brother--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 contug their pursuit.When Mrs. Bennet was told of this,she did not express so much satisfaction as her children expected,considerg what her anxiety for his life had been before.