Austen August: A Pride and Prejudice Read-A-Long discussion

After Mr Bennet has returned home, they hear from Mr Gardiner that he has managed to track down Lydia and Wickham. Wickham the sleezeball has agreed to marry Lydia IF the Bennets will provide him with “a small income” (see: five thousand pounds HAH). Mr Bennet begrudgingly agrees to this condition, because Lydia being married is better than Lydia having her reputation ruined (and thus that of the whole family ruined.)

The Bennets suspect Mr Gardiner would already have paid Wickham a sum of money to get him to even agree to marrying Lydia in the first place when he clearly had no intention of doing so- Mr Bennet guesses it would have at least been ten thousand pounds worth. (I mean bloody hell!!! and then to further ask for more money from the Bennets for it!) Jane, still wanting to believe the best in Wickham despite everything, insists that Wickham would not marry Lydia if he did not have some sort of feelings towards her, money or not.

Mrs Bennet is absolutely thrilled that Lydia is to be married, but this soon dies down once Mr Bennet lays down the law that Lydia and Wickham are never to visit Longbourn. (Probably because Mr Bennet would punch Wickham on sight!)

I almost feel sorry to Lydia here now, because she really is just a foolish young girl, who may have no idea that the man she believes she loves has been paid to put up with her, to save her from a ruined reputation.