“Complied with!I am only ashamed of his asking so little.”
“Money!My uncle!”cried Jane,“what do you mean,sir?”
Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand.Jane now came up.“Read it aloud,”said their father,“for I hardly know myself what it is about.”
“Yes,yes,they must marry.There is nothing else to be done.But there are two things that I want very much to know;one is,how much money your uncle has laid down to bring it about;and the other,how am I ever to pay him.”
And so saying,he turned back with them,and walked towards the house.
“Well,and what news does it bring―good or bad?”
“No;but it must be done soon.”
Most earnestly did she then entreaty him to lose no more time before he wrote.
“I mean,that no man in his proper senses would marry Lydia on so slight a temptation as one hundred a year during my life,and fifty after I am gone.”
“What is there of good to be expected?”said he, taking the letter from his pocket.“But perhaps you would like to read it.”
“What do you mean,Hill?We have heard nothing from town.”
“Ten thousand pounds!Heaven forbid!How is half such a sum to be repaid?”