Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the fiftieth chapter of Pride and Prejudice.

Come with us as we release one bite a day of one of your favorite classic novels, plays & short stories. Bree reads these classics like she reads to her daughter, one chapter a day. If you love books or audiobooks and want something to listen to as you're getting ready, driving to work, or as you're getting ready for bed, check out Bite at a Time Books!

Follow, rate, and review Bite at a Time Books where we read you your favorite classics, one bite at a time. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Check out our website, or join our Facebook Group!

Get exclusive Behind the Scenes content on our YouTube!

We are now part of the Bite at a Time Books Productions network!

If you ever wondered what inspired your favorite classic novelist to write their stories, what was happening in their lives or the world at the time, check out Bite at a Time Books Behind the Story wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow us on all the socials: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook - TikTok

Follow Bree at: Instagram - Twitter - Facebook

Take it chapter by chapter one fight at a time so many adventures and mountains we can climb take it word for word, line by line one bite at a time.

Welcome to bite at a time books where we read you your favorite classics one bite at a time.

My name is Bre Carlisle and I love to read and wanted to share my passion with listeners like you.

If you want to know whats coming next and vote on upcoming books, sign up for our newsletter@biteatamebooks.com dot.

Youll also find our new t shirts in the shop, including podcast shirts and quote shirts from your favorite classic novels.

Be sure to follow my show on your favorite podcast platform so you get all the new episodes.

You can find most of our links in the show notes, but also our website byteadatimebooks.com includes all of the links for our show, including to our Patreon to support the show and YouTube where we have special behind the narration of the episodes.

We are part of the Byte at a Time Books productions network.

If youd also like to hear what inspired your favorite classic authors to write their novels and what was going on in the world at the time, check out the bite at a time books behind the story podcast.

Wherever you listen to podcasts, please note while we try to keep the text as close to the original as possible, some words have been changed to honor the marginalized communities who've identified the words as harmful and to stay in alignment with bite at a time book's brand values.

Today we'll be continuing pride and prejudice by Jane Austen chapter 50 Mister Bennett had very often wished, before this period of his life, that instead of spending his whole income he had laid by an annual sum for the better provision of his children and of his wife if she survived him, he now wished it more than ever.

Had he done his duty in that respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever the honor of credit could now be purchased for her.

The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place.

He was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother in law, and he was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of his assistance and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could.

When first Mister Bennett had married, economy was held to be perfectly useless, for of course they were to have a son.

This son was to join in cutting off the entail as soon as he should be of age and the widow and younger children would by that means be provided for.

Five daughters successively entered the world.

But yet the sun was to come, and misses Bennet, for many years after Lydia's birth, had been certain that he would.

This event had at last been despaired of.

But it was then too late to be saving.

Misses Bennet had no turn for economy, and her husbands love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income.

5000 pounds was settled by marriage articles on Misses Bennet and the children.

But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the latter depended on the will of the parents.

This was one point with regard to Lydia at least, which was now to be settled.

And Mister Bennet could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him in terms of grateful acknowledgement for the kindness of his brother.

Though expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfill the engagements that had been made for him.

He had never before supposed that could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter?

It would be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present arrangement he would scarcely be ten pounds a year, the loser by the hundred that was to be paid them for, what with her board and pocket allowance, and the continual presents and money which have passed to her through her mothers hands, Lydias expenses had been very little within that sum.

That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side too, was another very welcome surprise, for his chief wish at present was to have as little trouble in the business as possible.

When the first transports of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her, were over, he naturally returned to all his former indolence.

His letter was soon dispatched for the dilatorian undertaking business.

He was quick in its execution.

He begged to know further particulars of what he was indebted to his brother, but was too angry with Lydia to send any message to her.

The good news quickly spread through the house, and with proportionate speed through the neighborhood it was born in the latter with decent philosophy, to be sure.

It would have been more for the advantage of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennett come upon the town, or as the happiest alternative, been secluded from the world in some distant farmhouse.

But there was much to be talked of in marrying her, and the good natured wishes for her well doing which had proceeded before from all the spiteful old ladies in Merryton, lost but little of their spirit in this change of circumstances, because with such a husband her misery was considered certain.

It was a fortnight since misses Bennet had been downstairs, but on this happy day she again took her seat at the head of her table, and in spirits oppressively high, no sentiment of shame gave a damp to her triumph.

The marriage of a daughter, which had been the first object of her wishes since Jane was 16, was now on the point of accomplishment, and her thoughts and her words ran wholly on those attendance of elegant nuptials, fine muslins, new carriages and servants.

She was busily searching through the neighborhood for a proper situation for her daughter, and without knowing or considering what their income might be rejected, many as deficient in size and importance a park might do, she said, if the goldings would quit it.

Or the great house at Stoke, if the drawing room were larger.

But Ashworth is too far off.

I could not bear to have her 10 miles from me.

And as for Purvis Lodge, the attics are dreadful.

Her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption, while the servants remained.

But when they had withdrawn, he said to her, misses Bennet, before you take any or all of these houses for your son and daughter, let us come to a right understanding.

Into one house in this neighborhood they shall never have admittance.

I will not encourage the imprudence of either by receiving them at Longbourn.

A long dispute followed this declaration, but Mister Bennet was firm.

It soon led to another, and misses Bennet found with amazement and horror that her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his daughter.

He protested that she should receive from him no mark of affection whatever on the occasion.

Misses Bennet could hardly comprehend it that.

His anger could be carried to such.

A point of inconceivable resentment as to refuse his daughter a privilege without which her marriage would scarcely seem valid, exceeded all that she could believe possible.

She was more alive to the disgrace which her want of new clothes must reflect on her daughters nuptials, than any sense of shame at her eloping and living with Wickham a fortnight before they took place.

Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of the moment, been led to make Mister Darcy acquainted with their fears for her sister.

For since her marriage would so shortly give the proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its unfavorable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot.

She had no fear of it spreading further through his means.

There were few people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended.

But at the same time there was no one whose knowledge of a sisters frailty would have mortified her so much not, however, from any fear of disadvantage from it individually to herself.

For at any rate there seemed a gulf impassable between them.

Had Lydias marriage been concluded on the most honorable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mister Darcy would connect himself with a family, where to every other objection would now be added, an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with the man whom he so justly scorned.

From such a connection she could not wonder that he should shrink.

The wish of procuring her regard, which she had assured herself of his feeling in Derbyshire, could not, in rational expectation, survive such a blow as this.

She was humbled, she was grieved, she repented, though she hardly knew of what.

She became jealous of his esteem when she could no longer hope to be benefited by it.

She wanted to hear of him when there seemed the least chance of gaining intelligence.

She was convinced that she could have been happy with him, when it was no longer likely they should meet.

What a triumph for him, she often thought.

Could he know that the proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago, would now have been gladly and gratefully received?

He was as generous, she doubted, not as the most generous of his sex.

But while he was mortal, there must be a triumph.

She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her.

His understanding and temperature, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes.

It was a union that must have been to the advantage of both.

By her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved, and from his judgment, information and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance.

But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what connubial Felicity really was.

A union of a different tendency, and precluding the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in their family.

How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence, she could not imagine.

But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue, she could easily conjecture.

Mister Gardner soon wrote again to his brother, to Mister Bennetts acknowledgments.

He briefly replied with assurances of his eagerness to promote the welfare of any of his family, and concluded with entreaties that the subject might never be mentioned to him again.

The principal purport of his letter was to inform them that Mister Wickham had resolved on quitting the militia.

It was greatly my wish that he should do so, he added, as soon as his marriage was fixed on, and I think you will agree with me in considering a removal from that corps is highly advisable, both on his account and my nieces.

It is Mister Wickhams intention to go into the regulars, and among his former friends there are still some who are able and willing to system in the army.

He has the promise of an ensignacean general regiment, now quartered in the north.

It is an advantage to have it so far from this part of the kingdom.

He promises fairly, and I hope among different people, where they may each have a character to preserve.

They will both be more prudent.

I have written to Colonel Forster to inform him of our present arrangements, and a request that he will satisfy the various creditors of Mister Wickham in and near Brighton, with assurances of speedy payment, for which I have pledged myself.

And will you give yourself the trouble of carrying similar assurances to his creditors in Merriton, of whom I shall subjoin a list according to his information he is given in all his debts.

I hope at least, he has not deceived us.

Hagerston has our directions, and all will be completed in a week.

They will then join his regiment, unless they are first invited to Longbourn.

And I understand from Misses Gardner that my niece is very desirous of seeing you all before she leaves the south.

She is well, and begs to be dutifully remembered to you and her mother.

Yours, etcetera.

E.

Gardner.

Mister Bennet and his daughter saw all the advantages of Wickhams removal from the shire as clearly as Mister Gardner could do.

But Misses Bennet was not so well pleased with it.

Lydias being settled in the north, just when she had expected most pleasure and pride in her company, for she had by no means given up.

Her plan of their residing in Hertfordshire was a severe disappointment.

And besides, it was such a pity.

That Lydia should be taken from a regiment, where she was acquainted with everybody, and had so many favorites.

She is so fond of Misses Forster, said she.

It will be quite shocking to send her away, and there are several of the young men too, that she likes very much.

The officers may not be so pleasant in generals regiment.

His daughters request for such it might be considered of being admitted into her family again, before she set off for the north, received at first an absolute negative.

But Jane and Elizabeth, who agreed in wishing for the sake of their sisters feelings in consequence that she should be noticed on her marriage by her parents, urged him so earnestly, yet so rationally and so mildly, to receive her and her husband at Longbourn as soon as they were married that he was prevailed on to think as they thought and act as they wished, and their mother had the satisfaction of knowing that she should be able to show her married daughter in the neighborhood before she was banished to the north.

When Mister Bennet wrote again to his brother, therefore, he sent his permission for them to come, and it was settled that as soon as the ceremony was over, they should proceed to Longbourn.

Elizabeth was surprised, however, that Wickham should consent to such a scheme, and had she consulted only her own inclination, any meeting with him would have been the last object of her wishes.

Thank you for joining bite at a time books today while we read a.

Bite of one of your favorite classics.

Again, my name is Bree Carlisle and I hope you come back tomorrow for the next bite of pride and prejudice.

Dont forget to sign up for our newsletter@biteaudatimebooks.com comma and check out the shop.

You can check out the show notes or our website, byteadatimebooks.com for the rest of the links for our show.

Wed love to hear from you on social media as well.

Take it chapter by chapter, one at a time so many adventures and mountains we can climb take it word for word, line by line, one bite at a time.