Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 280 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 280

JANE AUSTEN

“No governess! How was that possible? Five daugh-

ters 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 nobody

but a governess can give it. It is wonderful how many

families I have been the means of supplying in that way.

I am always glad to get a young person well placed

out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully

situated through my means; and it was but the other

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