“Well,my dear,”said he,when she ceased speaking,“I have no more to say.If this be the case,he deserves you.I could not have parted with you,my Lizzy,to anyone less worthy.”
To complete the favourable impression,she then told him what Mr. Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment.
“My dearest child,”she cried,“I can think of nothing else!Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! 'Tis as good as a Lord! And a special licence.You must and shall be married by a special licence. But my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of,that I may have it to-morrow.”
“This is an evening of wonders, indeed!And so, Darcy did every thing;made up the match,gave the money,paid the fellow's debts, and got him his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy.Had it been your uncle's doing,I must and would have paid him;but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own way.I shall offer to pay him to-morrow;he will rant and storm about his love for you,and there will be an end of the matter.”
When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night,she followed her,and made the important communication.Its effect was most extraordinary;for on first hearing it,Mrs.Bennet sat quite still,and unable to utter a syllable.Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could comprehend what she heard;though not in general backward to credit what was for the advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a lover to any of them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in her chair, get up, sit down again,wonder,and bless herself.