Chapter 48

           ThewholepartywereinhopesofaletterfromMr.Bennetthenextmorning,butthepostcameinwithoutbringingasinglelinefromhim. Hisfamilyknewhimtobe,onallcommonoccasions,amostnegligentanddilatorycorrespondent;butatsuchatimetheyhadhopedforexertion. Theywereforcedtoconcludethathehadnopleasingintelligencetosend;butevenofthattheywouldhavebeengladtobecertain. Mr.Gardinerhadwaitedonlyforthelettersbeforehesetoff. 

           Whenhewasgone,theywerecertainatleastofreceivingconstantinformationofwhatwasgoingon,andtheirunclepromised,atparting,toprevailonMr.BennettoreturntoLongbourn,assoonashecould,tothegreatconsolationofhissister,whoconsidereditastheonlysecurityforherhusband’snotbeingkilledinaduel. 

           Mrs.GardinerandthechildrenweretoremaininHertfordshireafewdayslonger,astheformerthoughtherpresencemightbeserviceabletohernieces. ShesharedintheirattendanceonMrs.Bennet,andwasagreatcomforttothemintheirhoursoffreedom. Theirotherauntalsovisitedthemfrequently,andalways,asshesaid,withthedesignofcheeringandhearteningthemup—though,asshenevercamewithoutreportingsomefreshinstanceofWickham’sextravaganceorirregularity,sheseldomwentawaywithoutleavingthemmoredispiritedthanshefoundthem. 

           AllMerytonseemedstrivingtoblackenthemanwho,butthreemonthsbefore,hadbeenalmostanangeloflight. Hewasdeclaredtobeindebttoeverytradesmanintheplace,andhisintrigues,allhonouredwiththetitleofseduction,hadbeenextendedintoeverytradesman’sfamily. Everybodydeclaredthathewasthewickedestyoungmanintheworld;andeverybodybegantofindoutthattheyhadalwaysdistrustedtheappearanceofhisgoodness.