Mr. Bennet felt very guilty. He wished he had saved money over the years for his daughters. If he had been more careful with money, he could have paid Wickham himself instead of letting Mr. Gardiner do it. He wrote a letter to his brother-in-law, thanking him and promising to pay him back as soon as possible.
The news of the marriage spread through the town. The people in Meryton were a bit disappointed. They had hoped for a bigger scandal! However, they all agreed that Lydia would be miserable with a husband like Wickham.
Mrs. Bennet was now in high spirits. She spent her time looking for a house for Lydia near Longbourn. But when she mentioned it to her husband, he was very firm.
"Into this house, they shall never come," Mr. Bennet declared. "I will not welcome them at Longbourn."
Mrs. Bennet was shocked. She was even more upset when Mr. Bennet refused to give Lydia any money for new clothes. He was still very angry with his daughter for her foolish behavior.
Elizabeth was also feeling very unhappy, but for a different reason. She deeply regretted telling Mr. Darcy about Lydia and Wickham. Now that Lydia was actually marrying Wickham, the secret of the elopement might stay hidden from most people. But Darcy knew the truth.
She realized that Darcy would never want to marry her now. Even if he still loved her, he would never want to be related to Wickham. Wickham was the man he hated most in the world.
Elizabeth finally understood her own heart. She realized that Darcy was exactly the right man for her. He was clever and serious, and she was lively and fun. They could have improved each other. But now, it was too late. There was a huge gap between them that could never be crossed.
Another letter arrived from Mr. Gardiner. He explained that Wickham was leaving the local army and joining a new regiment in the North of England. This was good news because it meant the couple would be far away from the gossip of Meryton.
Lydia wanted to see her family one last time before moving to the North. At first, Mr. Bennet said no. But Jane and Elizabeth talked to him calmly. They argued that for Lydia’s reputation, it was better if the neighbors saw that her family still supported her.
Finally, Mr. Bennet gave in. "Fine," he said. "They may come here after they are married."
Elizabeth was surprised that Wickham agreed to come, and she was not looking forward to seeing him. However, for the sake of the family, the meeting was arranged.