第112章[第1页/共5页]

“Money!My uncle!”cried Jane,“what do you mean,sir?”

Most earnestly did she then entreaty him to lose no more time before he wrote.

“That is very true,”said Elizabeth;“though it had not occurred to me before.His debts to be discharged,and something still to remain!Oh!it must be my uncle's doings!Generous,good man,I am afraid he has distressed himself.A small sum could not do all this.”

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:

“I dislike it very much,”he replied;“but it must be done.”

“And have you answered the letter?”cried Elizabeth.

“If you are looking for my master,ma'am,he is walking towards the little copse.”

“Yes I have had a letter from him by express.”

“And may I ask―”said Elizabeth;“but the terms, I suppose, must be complied with.”

“Complied with!I am only ashamed of his asking so little.”

“Then it is as I always hoped,”cried Jane;“they are married!”

Elizabeth read on:

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

“Yes,yes,they must marry.There is nothing else to be done.But there are two things that I want very much to know;one is,how much money your uncle has laid down to bring it about;and the other,how am I ever to pay him.”