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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-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 van-

ished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were

overthrown.

But Mr. Bennet was not of a disposition to seek com-

fort 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 want-

ing, 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 chil-

dren, 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 pre-

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