Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 49

Two days after Mr. Bennet's return, as Jane and Elizabeth were

walking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw

the housekeeper coming towards them, and, concluding that she

came to call them to their mother, went forward to meet her;

but, instead of the expected summons, when they approached

her, she said to Miss Bennet, "I beg your pardon, madam, for

interrupting you, but I was in hopes you might have got some

good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask."

"What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from town."

"Dear madam," cried Mrs. Hill, in great astonishment, "don't

you know there is an express come for master from Mr. Gardiner?

He has been here this half-hour, and master has had a letter."

Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for speech.

They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast-room; from

thence to the library; their father was in neither; and they

were on the point of seeking him upstairs with their mother,

when they were met by the butler, who said:

"If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking

towards the little copse."

Upon this information, they instantly passed through the hall

once more, and ran across the lawn after their father, who was

deliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side

of the paddock.

Jane, who was not so light nor so much in the habit of running

as Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting for

breath, came up with him, and eagerly cried out:

"Oh, papa, what news--what news? Have you heard from my

uncle?"

"Yes I have had a letter from him by express."

"Well, and what news does it bring--good or bad?"

"What is there of good to be expected?" said he, taking the

letter from his pocket. "But perhaps you would like to read it."

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."

"Gracechurch Street, Monday,

August 2.

"MY DEAR BROTHER,

"At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, and

such as, upon the whole, I hope it will give you satisfaction.

Soon after you left me on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to

find out in what part of London they were. The particulars I

reserve till we meet; it is enough to know they are discovered.