Jane Austen
Brighton. He owed a good deal in town, but his debts of honour were still more formidable.
Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family. Jane
heard them with horror. "A gamester!" she cried. "This is wholly unexpected. I had not an
idea of it."
Mr. Gardiner added in his letter, that they might expect to see their father at home on the
following day, which was Saturday. Rendered spiritless by the ill-success of all their
endeavours, he had yielded to his brother-in-law's entreaty that he would return to his
family, and leave it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable for
continuing their pursuit. When Mrs. Bennet was told of this, she did not express so much
satisfaction as her children expected, considering what her anxiety for his life had been
before.
"What, is he coming home, and without poor Lydia?" she cried. "Sure he will not leave
annaabi.ee 
