Mrs.Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire a few days longer, as the former thought her presence might be serviceable to her nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet, and was a great comfort to them in their hours of freedom.Their other aunt also visited them frequently, and always, as she said, with the design of cheering and heartening them up―though, as she never came without reporting some fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity, she seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than she found them.
“MY DEAR SIR,
But before they heard again from Mr.Gardiner,a letter arrived for their father,from a different quarter,from Mr.Collins;which, as Jane had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence,she accordingly read;and Elizabeth,who knew what curiosities his letters always were, looked over her, and read it likewise.It was as follows:
Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; on Tuesday his wife received a letter from him;it told them that,on his arrival,he had immediately found out his brother,and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch Street;that Mr.Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham,before his arrival,but without gaining any satisfactory information; and that he was now determined to inquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennet thought it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their first coming to London,before they procured lodgings.Mr.Gardiner himself did not expect any success from this measure,but as his brother was eager in it,he meant to assist him in pursuing it.He added that Mr.Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present to leave London and promised to write again very soon.There was also a post to this effect: