is that if you have a secret then she is last person to trust with it!

This is one of those occasions where my appreciation of Mrs Jennings is stretched to the limits and in fact I always have to take her aside and tell her off every time I read this passage. I think a bit of teasing about a possible admirer is OK but to bluntly ask what Brandon's business is when he clearly wishes to say nothing is very ill-mannered. Then she proceeds to tell the whole company what she thinks his business is, despite the fact that if she is right, it is a very private, sensitive matter. In her favour, I don't think she means to be malicious and in her own mind she may think she is being complimentary of Brandon. However, that doesn't compensate for the fact that she is indulging herself by repeating gossip. Badly done Mrs Jennings!