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On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of

receiving her brother and his wife, who came, as usual, to spend

the Christmas at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible,

gentlemanlike man, greatly superior to his sister, as well by

nature as education. The Netherfield ladies would have had

difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within

view of his own warehouses, could have been so well-bred and

agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs.

Bennet and Mrs. Philips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant

woman, and a great favourite with her Longbourn nieces. Between

the two eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a very

particular regard. They had frequently been staying with her in

town.