Chapter 42

           HadElizabeth’sopinionbeenalldrawnfromherownfamily,shecouldnothaveformedaverypleasingopinionofconjugalfelicityordomesticcomfort. Herfather,captivatedbyyouthandbeauty,andthatappearanceofgoodhumourwhichyouthandbeautygenerallygive,hadmarriedawomanwhoseweakunderstandingandilliberalmindhadveryearlyintheirmarriageputandendtoallrealaffectionforher. Respect,esteem,andconfidencehadvanishedforever;andallhisviewsofdomestichappinesswereoverthrown. ButMr.Bennetwasnotofadispositiontoseekcomfortforthedisappointmentwhichhisownimprudencehadbroughton,inanyofthosepleasureswhichtoooftenconsoletheunfortunatefortheirfollyoftheirvice. Hewasfondofthecountryandofbooks;andfromthesetasteshadarisenhisprincipalenjoyments. Tohiswifehewasverylittleotherwiseindebted,thanasherignoranceandfollyhadcontributedtohisamusement. Thisisnotthesortofhappinesswhichamanwouldingeneralwishtoowetohiswife; butwhereotherpowersofentertainmentarewanting,thetruephilosopherwillderivebenefitfromsuchasaregiven. 

           Elizabeth,however,hadneverbeenblindtotheimproprietyofherfather’sbehaviourasahusband. Shehadalwaysseenitwithpain; butrespectinghisabilities,andgratefulforhisaffectionatetreatmentofherself,sheendeavouredtoforgetwhatshecouldnotoverlook,andtobanishfromherthoughtsthatcontinualbreachofconjugalobligationanddecorumwhich,inexposinghiswifetothecontemptofherownchildren,wassohighlyreprehensible. Butshehadneverfeltsostronglyasnowthedisadvantageswhichmustattendthechildrenofsounsuitableamarriage,noreverbeensofullyawareoftheevilsarisingfromsoill-judgedadirectionoftalents; talents,which,rightlyused,mightatleasthavepreservedtherespectabilityofhisdaughters,evenifincapableofenlargingthemindofhiswife.