Mr. Bennet wishes he had set aside some of his income for his wife and children. Had he have done so, Lydia would not have had to rely on her uncle to pay for her wedding. Mr. Bennet wishes to find out how much Mr. Gardiner paid so he can repay him. Mr. Bennet hadn’t bothered to save because he had expected to have a son. By the time it was apparent he would never have a son, it was too late to save—though he never lived outside his income.
Mr. Bennet agrees to the terms his brother-in-law laid down. He is glad someone else is handling it. He doesn’t write to Lydia, being angry with her.
People offer their good wishes, even the spiteful ones. They are certain Lydia will rue the consequences even if she is married.
Mr. Bennet refuses to have Wickham and Lydia set foot at Longbourn, nor will he buy Lydia’s clothes. Mrs. Bennet is horrified and suddenly realizes the extent of Lydia’s shameful behaviour.
Elizabeth regrets telling Mr. Darcy about the affair, for they could have covered the whole thing up. She doesn’t believe he will gossip, but she feels ashamed that he knows about it. He would certainly not ever marry into her family now. She doubts he’ll even maintain his acquaintance with her. She has lost everything before she even had a chance to have it. He would be glad to know she would have accepted his proposal that she once scorned. They would have been good for each other.
Mr. Gardiner writes that Wickham is leaving the corps. He will be reassigned to the North. Mr. Gardiner hopes that they will live with more discretion among people they don’t’ know. He will settle Wickham’s debts. He claims Lydia wishes to see her parents.
Mrs. Bennet is upset that Lydia will be so far away from her and not with her friends in Colonel Forster’s regiment.
Mr. Bennet initially refuses to receive Lydia and Wickham, but Jane and Elizabeth persuade him to change his mind.
