Chapter 48 282
" You may well warn me against such an evil . Human nature is so prone to fall into it ! No , Lizzy , let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame . I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression . It will pass away soon enough ."
" Do you suppose them to be in London ?" " Yes ; where else can they be so well concealed ?" " And Lydia used to want to go to London ," added Kitty .
" She is happy then ," said her father drily ; " and her residence there will probably be of some duration ."
Then after a short silence he continued :
" Lizzy , I bear you no ill-will for being justified in your advice to me last May , which , considering the event , shows some greatness of mind ."
They were interrupted by Miss Bennet , who came to fetch her mother ' s tea .
" This is a parade ," he cried , " which does one good ; it gives such an elegance to misfortune ! Another day I will do the same ; I will sit in my library , in my nightcap and powdering gown , and give as much trouble as I can ; or , perhaps , I may defer it till Kitty runs away ."
" I am not going to run away , papa ," said Kitty fretfully . " If I should ever go to Brighton , I would behave better than Lydia ."
" You go to Brighton . I would not trust you so near it as Eastbourne for fifty pounds ! No , Kitty , I have at last learnt to be cautious , and you will feel the effects of it . No officer is ever to enter into my house again , nor even to pass through the village . Balls will be absolutely prohibited , unless you stand up with one of your sisters . And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner ."