“Already arisen?”repeated Mr. Bennet.“What, has she frightened away some of your lovers? Poor little Lizzy! But do not be cast down. Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.Come, let me see the list of pitiful fellows who have been kept aloof by Lydia's folly.”
“And my aunt Phillips is sure it would do me a great deal of good,”added Kitty.
In vain did Elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable,and Jane to make her resigned.As for Elizabeth herself,this invitation was so far from exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and Lydia, that she considered it as the death warrant of all possibility of common sense for the latter;and detestable as such a step must make her were it known,she could not help secretly advising her father not to let her go.She represented to him all the improprieties of Lydia's general behaviour,the little advantage she could derive from the friendship of such a woman as Mrs. Forster,and the probability of her being yet more imprudent with such a companion at Brighton, where the temptations must be greater than at home.He heard her attentively,and then said: