4. Letter from Mr. Bennet to Lydia and Wickham refusing to provide any additional financial support.
My dear daughter,
I am thoroughly disheartened by the knowledge of your bankruptcy. How could one possibly have foreseen such an event from such a charming man as Wickham? Your mother wishes me to remind you of how you test her nerves although she is not all too worried about your current circumstances. We are all entirely confident that Wickham's good character and upstanding moral values will find you both great wealth in Newcastle or elsewhere. If you find England to have no avail to your economy then perhaps you should try Scotland, or even the Americas?
After receiving Wickham's letter a few weeks ago regarding this matter we received another letter from him yesterday (fifth of January). In this letter, Mr. Wickham humbly requested a sum of money equal to that of the worth of all of the Longbourn estate from our family for the purpose of ensuring you a comfortable living until he finds new employment. Lydia dear, you must understand that we love you and want the best for you and Wickham… but it is not within my economy to lend out money every time Wickham asks.
It was not a fortnight and a day ago that your esteemed husband sent letters to Lizzy and Jane asking for money too, both of whom acquiesced! I honestly don't know how you two spend so much money. With two wealthy, generous sisters it confounds me that you find the need to ask me for such support. Your behavior lately has been very immature and selfish. We all have our own living to do sweetheart and you must to impinge upon us so often with your financial issues. To put your actions into perspective… this is the ninth time you and your husband have asked family for money in the last two months! As I write this, I suspect that your mother is in bed worrying herself over your economic issues.
In lieu of these events, I wish for you and Wickham to immediately leave Newcastle and return to Longbourn so that we may discuss your futures. Mr. Darcy has been kind enough to put together a list of possibly employments for Mr. Wickham and we all believe he needs to take the time to look it over with us. If this plan of action doesn't work out, your mother, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley and I have decided (for you) to relocate you to Longbourn. Mr. Wickham will then be advised to find temporary work in Australia where he will be expected to earn a substantial sum of money before he returns. This seems to be the only logical course for you two given your present predicament.
Anyways, in other news, Mary has taken up clogging. It's very interesting to watch but pretty arduous on my ears and your mother's nerves. Lizzy is much improved on the pianoforte and when she comes down to Longbourn we have lovely little accompaniments with Mary's dancing. Oh dear, and the biggest news of all—Jane is to be a mother! It wasn't three days back that Doctor Hammel announced Jane's pregnancy. We have yet to tell your mother for fear that she will quite literally combust from excitement.
You must excuse me for the brevity of this letter but your mother comes to the library as I write—I can hear her stomping. She must not know about this new request from your husband or of Jane's pregnancy (yet). I leave you with this—in five days time I expect both of you at Longbourn to discuss your future. Do not make me have to come and find you two, again.
With affection,
Your Father