Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 495 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 495

Pride and Prejudice

be long before they are. All that is required of you is,

to assure to your daughter, by settlement, her equal

share of the five thousand pounds secured among your

children after the decease of yourself and my sister;

and, moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing

her, during your life, one hundred pounds per annum.

These are conditions which, considering everything, I

had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I thought

myself privileged, for you. I shall send this by express,

that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer.

You will easily comprehend, from these particulars, that

Mr. Wickham’s circumstances are not so hopeless as

they are generally believed to be. The world has been

deceived in that respect; and I am happy to say there

will be some little money, even when all his debts are

discharged, to settle on my niece, in addition to her own

fortune. If, as I conclude will be the case, you send me

full powers to act in your name throughout the whole

of this business, I will immediately give directions to

Haggerston for preparing a proper settlement. There

will not be the smallest occasion for your coming to

town again; therefore stay quiet at Longbourn, and

depend on my diligence and care. Send back your

answer as fast as you can, and be careful to write

explicitly. We have judged it best that my niece should

487