Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 42

Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family,

she could not have formed a very pleasing opinion of conjugal

felicity or domestic comfort. Her father, captivated by youth

and beauty, and that appearance of good humour 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 behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with

pain; but respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate

treatment of herself, she endeavoured 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