Austen Said:

They were hopeless of remedy. Her father, contented with laughing at them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters; and her mother, with manners so far from right herself, was entirely insensible of the evil.

but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence, what chance could there be of improvement?

Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Lydia's guidance, had been always affronted by their advice; and Lydia, self-willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there forever.

His affection was proved to have been sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could attach to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend.

How grievous then was

a situation so desirable in every respect, so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness, Jane had been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family!

She had spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being with Charlotte, and the kind attentions she had received, must make her feel the obliged.

“You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself at least that you will be able to do so. Lady Catherine's great attentions to Mrs. Collins you have been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appear that your friend has drawn an unfortunate — but on this point it will be as well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.”

it was a great happiness where that was the case,

she firmly believed and rejoiced in his domestic comforts.

Poor Charlotte! it was melancholy to leave her to such society!

But she had chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that her visitors were to go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms.

“Good gracious!”

“it seems but a day or two since we first came! and yet how many things have happened!”

“A great many indeed,”

“We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice! How much I shall have to tell!”

“And how much I shall have to conceal.”

But Jane was to go home with her, and at Longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation.

as to the extent of what she should communicate; and

if she once entered on the subject, of being hurried into repeating something of Bingley which might only grieve her sister further.

“Are they indeed!”

“Yes,”

“that would be a delightful scheme indeed, and completely do for us at once. Good Heaven! Brighton, and a whole campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one poor regiment of militia, and the monthly balls of Meryton!”

“And Mary King is safe!”

“safe from a connection imprudent as to fortune.”

“But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side,”

however incapable of such coarseness of expression herself, the coarseness of the sentiment was little other than her own breast had formerly harboured and fancied liberal!

“Far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures! They would doubtless be congenial with the generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms for me— I should infinitely prefer a book.”

It should not be said that the Miss Bennets could not be at home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers.

to avoid it as long as possible.

The comfort to her, of the regiment's approaching removal was indeed beyond expression. In a fortnight they were to go — and once gone,

there could be nothing more to plague her on his account.

the Brighton scheme, of which Lydia had given them a hint at the inn, was under frequent discussion between her parents.

her father had not the smallest intention of yielding; but his answers were at the same time so vague and equivocal, that her mother, though often disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at last.

Mr. Darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so little suited to recommend them;

the unhappiness which her sister's refusal must have given him.

“His being so sure of succeeding was wrong,”

“and certainly ought not to have appeared; but consider how much it must increase his disappointment!”

“Indeed,”

“I am heartily sorry for him; but he has other feelings, which will probably soon drive away his regard for me. You do not blame me, however, for refusing him?”

“Blame you! Oh, no.”

“But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?”

“No — I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did.”

“But you will know it, when I tell you what happened the very next day.”

“This will not do,”

“you never will be able to make both of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Mr. Darcy's; but you shall do as you choose.”

“I do not know when I have been more shocked,”

“Wickham so very bad! It is almost past belief. And poor Mr. Darcy! Dear Lizzy, only consider what he must have suffered. Such a disappointment! and with the knowledge of your ill opinion, too! and having to relate such a thing of his sister! It is really too distressing. I am sure you must feel it so.”

“Oh! no, my regret and compassion are all done away by seeing you so full of both. I know you will do him such ample justice, that I am growing every moment more unconcerned and indifferent. Your profusion makes me saving; and if you lament over him much longer, my heart will be as light as a feather.”

“Poor Wickham! there is such an expression of goodness in his countenance! such an openness and gentleness in his manner!”