Pride and Prejudice
Mr. Gardiner
Elizabeth's uncle
Mrs. Bennet's brother, a London merchant who is more of a gentleman than some who have grander titles. He is steady, practical and generous.
Edward Gardiner is Mrs. Bennet's brother, a well-read and sensible businessman in London. He is gentlemanly in his manners, calm in a crisis, and kind to his nieces. His dignity comes from character, not from rank, and the story shows how much better he is than some of the people who look down on him.
He is also easy company. He loves fishing, enjoys travel and treats everyone he meets with the same politeness. When Darcy meets him at Pemberley, he is impressed.
In the story
Contains spoilers.
Mr. Gardiner comes to Longbourn for Christmas, then travels with Elizabeth and his wife to Derbyshire in the summer. At Pemberley, Darcy invites him to fish in his stream for as long as the party stays in Derbyshire.
When Lydia and Wickham disappear, he leaves at once to help find them. An express from him tells the Bennets that the couple has been found and are to be married. Mr. Bennet assumes Gardiner paid ten thousand pounds, and the family is grateful. Only later do they learn that Darcy did the work and paid the costs.
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