that Jane's nature was probably what saved her. That, and her close relationship with Lizzy. A Lydia would be a trial to raise in any age -- we see Lydias everyday on the news. In the 19th century, one would assume that parents had more control of their children, but then Austen's works are full of men and women who seem to take little interest in their offspring, or are only interested in a certain child to the neglect of the others. Lydia might have been steadier if Mrs B had taken less interest in her and Mr B more...