Mr. Gardiner

Also known as: her uncle / his brother-in-law / my brother Gardiner / my dear uncle / my uncle / their uncle / your uncle · Family: Gardiner · Role: Mrs. Bennet's brother · First appears: Chapter 9

In chapter 25, Mr. Gardiner arrives at Longbourn with his wife, Mrs. Gardiner, to spend Christmas with his sister, Mrs. Bennet, as usual. He is a dear uncle to Jane Bennet and Elizabeth Bennet; Jane Bennet remembers his invariable kindness, while Elizabeth Bennet accepts an invitation to tour the Lakes with him and Mrs. Gardiner in the summer. The Lakes tour is later abandoned for a shorter journey through Derbyshire, and Elizabeth Bennet accompanies them to Pemberley, where Mr. Gardiner speaks with Fitzwilliam Darcy, receives an invitation to fish, and is offered fishing tackle.

After Elizabeth Bennet explains George Wickham’s financial dealings and deceit, Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Gardiner reconsider both men’s characters. When Elizabeth Bennet brings news of Lydia Bennet’s crisis, he “readily promised every assistance in his power” and went with her and Mrs. Gardiner to Longbourn. He then left to search for Lydia Bennet and George Wickham, found them in London, and arranged conditions intended to secure their marriage, bringing Lydia Bennet under the protection of Mrs. Gardiner before the wedding.

Mr. Gardiner also assisted his brother-in-law, Mr. Bennet, first persuading him to come to Gracechurch Street and later undertaking to continue the search himself. He pledged payment of George Wickham’s creditors and arranged for the debts to be settled. Mr. Bennet approved what he had done, while Fitzwilliam Darcy later revealed that he had secretly found Lydia Bennet and George Wickham and negotiated their return and marriage. By the end, Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Gardiner were on intimate terms with Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet, whom Darcy and Elizabeth truly loved.