Chapter 50 291
Chapter 50
Mr . Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that , instead of spending his whole income , he had laid by an annual sum for the better provision of his children , and of his wife , if she survived him . He now wished it more than ever . Had he done his duty in that respect , Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever of honour or credit could now be purchased for her . The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place .
He was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law , and he was determined , if possible , to find out the extent of his assistance , and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could .
When first Mr . Bennet had married , economy was held to be perfectly useless , for , of course , they were to have a son . The son was to join in cutting off the entail , as soon as he should be of age , and the widow and younger children would by that means be provided for . Five daughters successively entered the world , but yet the son was to come ; and Mrs . Bennet , for many years after Lydia ' s birth , had been certain that he would . This event had at last been despaired of , but it was then too late to be saving . Mrs . Bennet had no turn for economy , and her husband ' s love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income .
Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs . Bennet and the children . But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the latter depended on the will of the parents . This was one point , with regard to Lydia , at least , which was now to be settled , and Mr . Bennet could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him . In terms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother , though expressed most concisely , he then delivered on paper his perfect approbation of all that was done , and his willingness to fulfil the engagements that had been made for him . He had never before supposed that , could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter , it would be done with so little inconvenience to himself