From Chapter 50: "Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennet and the children."

I've wondered about this for a while. I think this 5,000 comes from Mrs. Bennet's dowry. But isn't the dowry for the use of the couple after they get married? It is implied here, at least to my mind, that it the 5,000 just sits and waits for their daughters' use as a dowry, when they each marry. And then what: does it sit and wait, for use as a dowry when they get married?