theshrubberybehindthehouse,theysawthehousekeeperingtowardsthem,and,concludingthatshecametocallthemtotheirmother,wentforwardtomeether;but,insteadoftheexpectedsummons,whentheyapproachedher,shesaidtoMissBen,“Ibegyourpardon,madam,forinterruptingyou,butIwasinhopesyoumighthavegotsomegoodnewsfromtown,soItookthelibertyofingtoask.”

    “Whatdoyoumean,Hill?Weletter.”

    fromthencetothelibrary;theirfatherwasinneither;andtheywereonthepointofseekinghimupstairswiththeirmother,whentheyweremetbythebutler,whosaid:

    “Ifyouarelookingformymaster,ma'am,heiswalkingtowardsthelittlecopse.”

    Uponthisinformation,theyinstantlypassedthroughthehalloncemore,andranacrossthelawnaftertheirfather,whowasdeliberatelypursuinghiswaytowardsasmallwoodononesideofthepaddock.

    Jane,whowasnotsolightnorsomuchinthehabitofrunningasElizabeth,soonlaggedbehind,whilehersister,pantingforbreath,cameupwithhim,andeagerlycriedout:

    “Oh,papa,whatnews―whatnews?Haveyouheardfrommyuncle?”

    “YesIhavehadaletterfromhimbyexpress.”

    “Well,andwhatnewsdoesitbring―goodorbad?”

    “Whatisthereofgtitisabout.”

    GracechurchStreet,Monday,August2.

    “MydearBrother,

    “AtlastIamabletosendyousometidingsofmyniece,a;itisenoughtoknowtheyarediscovered.Ihaveseenthemboth―”

    “ThenitisasIalwayshoped,”criedJane;“theyaremarbeingso;butifyouarewillingtoperformtheengagementswhichIhaveventuredtottlement,herequalshareofthefivethousandpoundssecuredamongyourchildrenafterthedeceaseofyourselfandmysister;and,moreover,toenterintoanengagementsitationinickham'scircumst;andIamhappytosaytherewillbesomelittlemoney,evenwhenallhisdebtsaredtinyournamethroughoutthewholeofthisbusiness,Iwillimmediatelygagain;therefossredtheletter?”criedElizabeth.

    “No;butitmustbedonesoon.”

    Mostearnestlydidshethenentreatyhimtolosenomoretimebeforehewrote.

    “Letmewriteforyou,”saidJane,“ifyoudislikethetroubleyourself.”

    “Idislikeitverymuch,”hereplied;“butitmustbedone.”

    Andsosaying,heturnedbackwiththem,andwalkedtowardsthehouse.

    “AndmayIask―”saidElizabeth;“buttheterms,Isuppose,mustbepliedwith.”

    “Compliedwith!Iamonlyashamedofhisaskingsolittle.”

    “AndtheymustIwantverymuchtoknow;oneis,howmuchmoneyyourunclehaslaiddowntobringitabout;andtheother,howamIevertopayhim.”

    “Money!Myuncle!”criedJane,“whatdoyoumean,sir?”

    “Imean,thatnomaninhispropersenseswouldmarryLydiaonsoslightatemptationasonehundredayearduringmylife,andfiftyafterIamgone.”

    “Thatisverytrue,”saidElizabeth;mustbemyuncle'sdoings!Generous,goodman,Iamafraidhehasdistressedhimself.Asmallsumcouldnotdoallthis.”

    “No,”saidherfather;“Wickham'safoolifhetakesherwithafarthinglessthantenthousandpounds.Ishouldbesorrytothinksoillofhim,intheverybeginningofourrelationship.”

    “Tenthousandpounds!Heavenforbid!Howishalfsuchasumtoberepaid?”