Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 511 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 511

Pride and Prejudice

judgement, information, and knowledge of the world,

she must have received benefit of greater importance.

But no such happy marriage could now teach the

admiring multitude what connubial felicity really was.

An union of a different tendency, and precluding the

possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in their

family.

How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in

tolerable independence, she could not imagine. But

how little of permanent happiness could belong to a

couple who were only brought together because their

passions were stronger than their virtue, she could

easily conjecture.

Mr. Gardiner soon wrote again to his brother. To

Mr. Bennet’s acknowledgments he briefly replied, with

assurance of his eagerness to promote the welfare of

any of his family; and concluded with entreaties that

the subject might never be mentioned to him again. The

principal purport of his letter was to inform them that

Mr. Wickham had resolved on quitting the militia.

“It was greatly my wish that he should do so,” he

added, “as soon as his marriage was fixed on. And

I think you will agree with me, in considering the

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