but I do still wonder about how much difference it might have made to the girls if they had had a nice younger half brother! I know such brothers are not always particularly generous to their sisters, but it seems to me, especially once Mr Elliot had shown his disdain for the family, that it might have been worth the risk. A truly loving father might have looked for someone who would make a warm and loving stepmother and provide him with an heir, to keep Kellynch in the immediate family.

It is almost like Mr Bennet not bothering to save anything for after his death but relying on having a son - Sir Walter is not prepared to think of a second wife in any way other than one which would reflect well on his person (as he sees it). This leads to those 'unreasonable applications' and so his vanity requires him to rationalise his not re-marrying as being for his (singular) daughter's sake. Presumably he manages to convince Elizabeth he is holding off so as not to usurp her place as mistress of the house.