he
saw no Way so open to propitiate my Aunt as that which he had taken; by
commending my Beauty, a Perfection to which she had long resigned all Claim, at
the Expence of my Understanding, in which he lamented my Deficiency to a Degree
almost of Ridicule. This he imputed chiefly to my Learning; on this Occasion he
advanced a Sentiment, which so pleased my Aunt, that she thought proper to make
it her own: For I heard it afterwards more than once from her own Mouth.
Learning, he said, had the same Effect on the Mind, that strong Liquors have on
the Constitution; both tending to eradicate all our natural Fire and Energy. His
Flattery had made such a Dupe of my Aunt, that she assented, without the least
Suspicion of his Sincerity, to all he said; so sure is Vanity to weaken every
Fortress of the Understanding, and to betray us to every Attack of the Enemy.
    You will believe, Madam, that I readily forgave him all he had said, not
only from that Motive which I have mentioned, but as I was assured he had spoke
the Reverse of his real Sentiments. I was not, however, quite so well pleased
with my Aunt, who began to treat me as if I was really an Ideot. Her Contempt, I
own, a little piqued me; and I could not help often expressing my Resentment,
when we were alone together, to Mr. Bennet; who never failed to gratify me, by
making her Conceit the Subject of his Wit; a Talent which he possessed in the
most extraordinary Degree.
    This proved of very fatal Consequence: For one Day, while we were enjoying
my Aunt in a very thick Arbour in the Garden, she stole upon us unobserved, and
overheard our whole Conversation. I wish, my Dear, you understood Latin, that I
might repeat you a Sentence, in which the Rage of a Tigress, that hath lost her
young, is described. No English Poet, as I remember, hath come up to it; nor am
I myself equal to the Undertaking. She burst in upon us, open- and after
discharging every abusive Word almost, in the only Language she understood, on
poor Mr. Bennet, turned us both out of Doors; declaring, she would send my Rags
after me, but would never more permit me to set my Foot within her Threshold.
    Consider, dear Madam, to what a wretched Condition we were now reduced. I
had not yet received the small Legacy left me by my Father; nor was Mr. Bennet
Master