(as does Elizabeth) that Mr. Bennet will do nothing to "check" her. Mrs. Bennet seems very deferential to him and thus I think he could manage her and Lydia (and Kitty) had he "given himself the trouble." At least far better than they were without his attempts! I find his comment on them being the silliest girls in the country earlier on quite cruel, especially considering it was in his power to make them less so. He listens earnestly to Lizzy when she goes to him about Lydia's Brighton trip and even condescends to make an explanation to her (as opposed to his curt dismissals of Mrs. Bennet and the other girls) yet surely he knew how silly Mrs. Forester was and how unsuitable a guardian she would be for Lydia. He just was thinking of himself, getting "rid" of Lydia for a time at very little cost to himself. A disgrace if you ask me! (Though another interesting example of "the more things change, the more they stay the same" as there are many parents who do the same today! IMHO of course)