HadElizabethsopinionbeenalldrawnfromherownfamily,shecouldnothaveformedaverypleasingpictureofconjugalfelicityordomesticcomfort.Herfather,captivatedbyyouthandbeauty,andthatappearanceofgoodhumourwhichyouthandbeautygenerallygive,hadmarriedawomanwhoseweakunderstandingandilliberalmindhadveryearlyintheirmarriageputanendtoallrealaffectionforher.Respect,esteem,andconfidencehadvanishedforever;andallhisviewsofdomestichappinesswereoverthrown.ButMr.Bennetwasnotofadispositiontoseekcomfortforthedisappointmentwhichhisownimprudencehadbroughton,inanyofthosepleasureswhichtoooftenconsoletheunfortunatefortheirfollyortheirvice.Hewasfondofthecountryandofbooks;andfromthesetasteshadarisenhisprincipalenjoyments.Tohiswifehewasverylittleotherwiseindebted,thanasherignoranceandfollyhadcontributedtohisamusement.Thisisnotthesortofhappinesswhichamanwouldingeneralwishtoowetohiswife;butwhereotherpowersofentertainmentarewanting,thetruephilosopherwillderivebenefitfromsuchasaregiven.
Elizabeth,however,hadneverbeenblindtotheimproprietyofherfathersbehaviourasahusband.Shehadalwaysseenitwithpain;butrespectinghisabilities,andgratefulforhisaffectionatetreatmentofherself,sheendeavouredtoforgetwhatshecouldnotoverlook,andtobanishfromherthoughtsthatcontinualbreachofconjugalobligationanddecorumwhich,inexposinghiswifetothecontemptofherownchildren,wassohighlyreprehensible.Butshehadneverfeltsostronglyasnowthedisadvantageswhichmustattendthechildrenofsounsuitableamarriage,noreverbeensofullyawareoftheevilsarisingfromsoill-judgedadirectionoftalents;talents,which,rightlyused,mightatleasthavepreservedtherespectabilityofhisdaughters,evenifincapableofenlargingthemindofhiswife.
WhenElizabethhadrejoicedoverWickhamsdeparture,shefoundlittleothercauseforsatisfactioninthelossoftheregiment.Theirpartiesabroadwerelessvariedthanbefore,andathomeshehadamotherandsisterwhoseconstantrepiningsatthedullnessofeverythingaroundthemthrewarealgloomovertheirdomesticcircle;and,thoughKittymightintimeregainhernaturaldegreeofsense,sincethedisturbersofherbrainwereremoved,herothersister,fromwhosedispositiongreaterevilmightbeapprehended,waslikelytobehardenedinallherfollyandassurancebyasituationofsuchdoubledangerasawatering-placeandacamp.Uponthewhole,therefore,shefound,whathasbeensometimesfoundbefore,thataneventtowhichshehadbeenlookingforwardwithimpatientdesiredidnot,intakingplace,bringallthesatisfactionshehadpromisedherself.Itwasconsequentlynecessarytonamesomeotherperiodforthecommencementofactualfelicity—tohavesomeotherpointonwhichherwishesandhopesmightbefixed,andbyagainenjoyingthepleasureofanticipation,consoleherselfforthepresent,andprepareforanotherdisappointment.HertourtotheLakeswasnowtheobjectofherhappiestthoughts;itwasherbestconsolationforalltheuncomfortablehourswhichthediscontentednessofhermotherandKittymadeinevitable;andcouldshehaveincludedJaneinthescheme,everypartofitwouldhavebeenperfect.
“Butitisfortunate,”thoughtshe,“thatIhavesomethingtowishfor.Werethewholearrangementcomplete,mydisappointmentwouldbecertain.Buthere,bycarryingwithmeoneceaselesssourceofregretinmysistersabsence,Imayreasonablyhopetohaveallmyexpectationsofpleasurerealised.Aschemeofwhicheverypartpromisesdelightcanneverbesuccessful;andgeneraldisappointmentisonlywardedoffbythedefenceofsomelittlepeculiarvexation.”
WhenLydiawentawayshepromisedtowriteveryoftenandveryminutelytohermotherandKitty;butherletterswerealwayslongexpected,andalwaysveryshort.Thosetohermothercontainedlittleelsethanthattheywerejustreturnedfromthelibrary,wheresuchandsuchofficershadattendedthem,andwhereshehadseensuchbeautifulornamentsasmadeherquitewild;thatshehadanewgown,oranewparasol,whichshewouldhavedescribedmorefully,butwasobligedtoleaveoffinaviolenthurry,asMrs.Forstercalledher,andtheyweregoingtothecamp;andfromhercorrespondencewithhersister,therewasstilllesstobelearnt—forherletterstoKitty,thoughratherlonger,weremuchtoofulloflinesunderthewordstobemadepublic.
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