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Chapter LXI

Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on

which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two most deserv-

ing daughters. With what delighted pride she after-

wards visited Mrs. Bingley, and talked of Mrs. Darcy, may

be guessed. I wish I could say, for the sake of her family,

that the accomplishment of her earnest desire in the es-

tablishment of so many of her children produced so happy

an effect as to make her a sensible amiable, well-informed

woman for the rest of her life; though, perhaps, it was lucky

for her husband, who might not have relished domestic

felicity in so unusual a form, that she still was occasionally

nervous and invariably silly.

Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his

affection for her drew him oftener from home than any-

thing else could do. He delighted in going to Pemberley,

especially when he was least expected.

Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a

twelvemonth. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton

relations was not desirable even to his easy temper, or her

affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then

gratified: he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to

Derbyshire: and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every

other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each

other.

Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of

her time with her two elder sisters. In society so superior to

what she had generally known, her improvement was great.

She was not of so ungovernable a temper as Lydia; and,

removed from the influence of Lydia's example, she became,

by proper attention and management, less irritable, less

ignorant, and less insipid. From the further disadvantage of

Lydia's society she was of course carefully kept; and though

Mrs. Wickham frequently invited her to come and stay with

her, with the promise of balls and young men, her father

would never consent to her going.

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