Understanding
could appeal to the Judgment of a silly Girl: Is she, said my Aunt bridling
herself, fit to decide between us? Mr. Bennet spoke very favourably of what I
had said; upon which my Aunt burst almost into a Rage, treated me with downright
Scurrility, called me conceited Fool, abused my poor Father for having taught me
Latin, which, she said, had made me a downright Coxcomb, and made me prefer
myself to those who were a hundred Times my Superiors in Knowledge. She then
fell foul on the learned Languages, declared they were totally useless, and
concluded that she had read all that was worth reading, tho' she thanked Heaven
she understood no Language but her own.
    Before the End of his Visit, Mr. Bennet reconciled himself very well to my
Aunt, which, indeed, was no difficult Task for him to accomplish; but from that
Hour she conceived a Hatred and Rancour towards me, which I could never appease.
    My Aunt had, from my first Coming into her House, expressed great Dislike to
my Learning. In plain Truth, she envied me that Advantage. This Envy I had long
ago discovered; and had taken great Pains to smother it, carefully avoiding ever
to mention a Latin Word in her Presence, and always submitting to her Authority;
for indeed I despised her Ignorance too much to dispute with her. By these Means
I had pretty well succeeded, and we lived tolerably together. But the Affront
paid to her Understanding by Mr. Bennet in my Favour was an Injury never to be
forgiven to me. She took me severely to Task that very Evening, and reminded me
of going to Service, in such earnest Terms, as almost amounted to literally
turning me out of Doors; advising me, in the most insulting Manner, to keep my
Latin to myself; which, she said, was useless to any one; but ridiculous, when
pretended to by a Servant.
    The next Visit Mr. Bennet made at our House, I was not suffered to be
present. This was much the shortest of all his Visits; and when he went away, he
left my Aunt in a worse Humour than ever I had seen her. The Whole was
discharged on me in the usual Manner, by upbraiding me with my Learning,
Conceit, and Poverty; reminding me of Obligations, and insisting on my going
immediately to Service. With all this I was greatly pleased, as it assured me,
that Mr. Bennet had said something to her in my Favour; and I would have
purchased a kind Expression of his at