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PinkMonkey.com Digital Library - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen


178

CHAPTER XLII

HAD Elizabeth’s opinion been all drawn from her own family, she
could not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal felicity
or domestic comfort. Her father, captivated by youth and beauty,
and that appearance of good humor which youth and beauty
generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding
and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to
all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence had
vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were
overthrown. But Mr. Bennet was not of a disposition to seek
comfort for the disappointment which his own imprudence had
brought on, in any of those pleasures which too often console the
unfortunate for their folly or their vice. He was fond of the country
and of books; and from these tastes had arisen his principal
enjoyments. To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than
as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This
is not the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to
owe to his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are
wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are
given.

Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of her
father’s behavior as a husband. She had always seen it with pain;
but respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate
treatment of herself, she endeavored to forget what she could not
overlook, and to banish from her thoughts that continual breach of
conjugal obligation and decorum which, in exposing his wife to the
contempt of her own children, was so highly reprehensible. But she
had never felt so
strongly as now the disadvantages which must attend the children
of so unsuitable a marriage, nor ever been so fully aware of the
evils arising from so ill-judged a direction of talents; talents which,
rightly used, might at least have preserved the respectability of his
daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife.
When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham’s departure, she found
little other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their
parties abroad were less varied than before, and at home she had a
mother and sister whose constant repinings at the dullness of
everything around them threw a real gloom over their domestic
circle; and, though Kitty might in time regain her natural degree of
sense, since the disturbers of her brain were removed, her other
sister, from whose disposition greater evil might be apprehended,
was likely to be hardened in all her folly and assurance by a
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