Quote from Mr. Bennet regarding Wickham. "He is as fine a fellow, as ever I saw. He simpers and smirks, and makes love to us all. I am prodigously proud of him. I defy even sir William Lucas to produce a more valuable son-in-law." (Chapter 53). I have always thought Mr. Bennet was being sarcastic in this statement. I remember a similar quote in one of the P&P movie adaptations.. But now I wonder if he really was being sarcastic. The few lines before seem to suggest that Wickham had wormed his way back into everyone's (except for Lizzy's of course) good graces. Perhaps he has won over Mr. Bennet again? He did seem to like Wickham early on in the book.

Now I am not so convinced that this is sarcasm given Mr. Bennet's wishy-washyness. When he finds out the Wickhams want to come to visit, he says the Wickhams will never be welcome to Longbourne, but then he welcomes them. And now he says he's proud of Wickham... Could he have forgotten so quickly the trouble Wickham and Lydia caused their family just a short time before?

All this aside. How on earth does Lizzy contain herself???!!! The restraint they should in those days... is unbelievable, and sorely lacking in this day and age.

Thoughts?