Like Kathi, I felt that Mr. Bennet showed more affection in P&P2 than I pictured him doing when I read the book. I suppose I keyed into the description mentioned in this line: Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. When I saw P&P2 for the first time, Mr. Bennet seemed less sarcastic (in the mean-spirited way you can sometimes think of sarcasm) and even seemed as though there was some humorous affection for Mrs. B. But in looking at the novel again, I can't see evidence that he wasn't affectionate to her. For me, it was just a difference in my perception of him in the novel.