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 less varied than before; and at home she had a mother and{296}

sister, whose constant repinings at the dulness of everything around

them threw a real gloom over their domestic circle; and, though Kitty

might in time regain her natural degree of sense, since the disturbers

of her brain were removed, her other sister, from whose disposition

greater evil might be apprehended, was likely to be hardened in all her

folly and assurance, by a situation of such double danger as a

watering-place and a camp. Upon the whole, therefore, she found, what

has been sometimes found before, that an event to which she had looked

forward with impatient desire, did not, in taking place, bring all the

satisfaction she had promised herself. It was consequently necessary to

name some other period for the commencement of actual felicity; to have

some other point on which her wishes and hopes might be fixed, and by

again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, console herself for the

present, and prepare for another disappointment. Her tour to the Lakes

was now the object of her happiest thoughts: it was her best consolation

for all the uncomfortable hours which the discontentedness of her mother

and Kitty made inevitable; and could she have included Jane in the

scheme, every part of it would have been perfect.
“But it is fortunate,” thought she, “that I have something to wish for.

Were the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would be certain.

But here, by carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret in my