Austen August: A Pride and Prejudice Read-A-Long discussion

The regiment are preparing to leave Maryton and while the elder sisters carry on regardless, Kitty and Lydia are depressed, who find their older sisters ability to carry on with their lives despite this sad news absolutely callous! They spend the week moaning about how they should be allowed by Mr Bennet to go to Brighton.

But Lizzie is distracted- she is finding more and more that she is sympathetic with Darcy's logic at his interference on behalf of his friend (?!)

Lydia's day is soon brightened because she receives an invitation from Mrs Forster, the wife of the colonel of the regiment, to go to Brighton. Lydia celebrates while Kitty mopes at not receiving an invite as well.

Lizzie dreads the thought of Lydia going to Bath, because of knowing all about Wickham and his ways. “she considers it a death warrant for all common sense for the latter [Lydia]” Lizzie is also worried, due to Darcy's note on how her family presents itself in public, that however Lydia acts in Brighton will have a greater affect on their family than the Bennets initially realise. She tells her father that if he doesn't seriously talk to Lydia about her behaviour in public:

“Her character will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever made herself and her family ridiculous.”. She adds that Kitty is also in danger from being compromised by Lydia and her influence.

Mr Bennet pretty much dodges the question and says that he hopes the silly girls will go to Brighton, find themselves ignored by the officers in favour of other women, and they will learn they are not as important as they feel themselves to be- good parenting there, Mr Bennet.

Lizzie has one last encounter with Wickham and she drops into conversation that Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had spent 3 weeks at Rosings while she was there. This catches his attention.
She says “I think Mr Darcy improves on acquaintance”, which seems to surprise Wickham, prompting him to ask how her opinion of Darcy could possibly have been improved in such a short time.

Lizzie was well aware after this discussion of Wickham's change in character for the rest of the evening, he seemed to only pretend to be cheerful.

Lydia leaves the Bennets for her trip to Brighton.

I know we've been saying how much we love Mr. Bennet's playful humor, but as we will see his lack of seriousness in this matter will have a serious effect on them all.

Definitely, shows an example of how parenting needs to be more hands on in some situations! Just rolling your eyes and sighing at your "silly" daughter sometimes won't be enough to protect her or the rest of the family.