{{prxprp144.jpg}} || 144 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. -- It

was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. Do

you play and sing, Miss Bennet?'

'A little.'

'Oh! then -- some time or other we shall be happy to hear you.

Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to You

shall try it some day. Do your sisters play and sing?'

'One of them does.'

'Why did not you all learn? -- You ought all to have learned.

The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an

income as your's. -- Do you draw?'

'No, not at all.'

'What, none of you? '

'Not one.'

'That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity.

Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the

benefit of masters.'

'My mother would have had no objection, but my father

hates London.'

'Has your governess left you?'

'We never had any governess.'

'No governess! How was that possible; Five daughters

brought up at home without a governess! -- I never heard of such

a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your

education.'

Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that

had not been the case.

'Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a

governess you must have been neglected.'

'Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such

of us as wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were

always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were

necessary. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might.'

'Aye, no doubt: but that is what a governess will prevent, and

if I had known your mother, I should have advised her most

strenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be

done in education without steady and regular instruction, and

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