both for Lydia's behavior and for the operation of the household. Instead of being a parent and taking a stronger role in her husband's absence, she has become a whiny, demanding child, adding to Jane's workload. It is no wonder Mr. Bennet put Jane in charge of his correspondence -- can you imagine Mrs. B. trying to handle anything to do with business? And it can't be comforting to the younger girls especially to hear their mother carrying on about how their father is going to be killed in a duel and they will all be thrown out of the house by the Collinses when it happens. I almost don't blame Mary and Kitty for shutting themselves in their rooms.