Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 394 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 394

JANE AUSTEN

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 wanting, 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 children, 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 preserved the respectability of

his daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind

of his wife.

When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham’s

departure she found little other cause for satisfaction

in the loss of the regiment. Their parties abroad were

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