The following Monday Mrs Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came as usual to spend Christmas at Longbourn. Mr Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man.The Netherfield ladies would have had dif- ficulty in believing that a man who lived by buying and selling could be so well-mannered and agreeable. Mrs Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs Bennet and Mrs Philips, was a pleasant,intelligent,elegant woman,and a grest favourite with her Longbourn nieces,especially the two eldest, who often stayed with her in London.