Finding all the table looking at him for an unlikely confirmation, Mr. Bennet replied, “You may all well expect me to gainsay my daughter’s experiments, but, if truth be told, my gout weighs less on me than before. However, my dear,” patting Kitty’s hand and smiling, “we may take a little liberty against the leg, now and again, lest we insult Mr. Darcy or—Heaven forbid!—the woods of Pemberley.” Mr. Bennet then implored Mr. Darcy to consider exchanging abodes with him, at least for long enough to prevent himself and his son-in-law from wasting away altogether, gout and all, from lack of sustenance. Kitty momentarily looked as though she might be insulted, but for a kind look from Georgiana, who added, “It is altogether commendable, Kitty’s concern for the comfort of her father.”

Kitty, unused to anyone taking her part, replied, “Oh! Dear Papa! Yes, but you are quite correct in acting so as to avoid giving offense.”

Mr. Bennet leaned over to his younger daughter, and, kissing the top of her head, gently said, “Kitty, my child, you know I could not do without you.” With that, he signalled for the footman to take the plate away, declaring that the delights of Pemberley’s woods were always worth a limp or two and, with a wink directed at Mr. Darcy, laughed with Lizzy and Georgiana. Parson Overstowey, in deference to the collective opinion, after cleaning his plate entirely, persevered in this laudable resolution to take no further additional servings of any dish but the puddings. After dinner, the gentlemen retired to the Darcy’s library to consult maps, with the three ladies left to a comprehensive discussion of the myriad items that could not possibly be done without en voyage. Kitty, who, like her mother, was unable to comprehend that Meryton was other than the centre of the world, offered to lend Elizabeth her straw bonnet just bought on a visit to the Collins’s. Elizabeth was so charmed by this mark of affection that she accepted, despite having no deficit of bonnets herself. The next day made Elizabeth yet more pleased with her own graciousness in taking the proffered hat, as Kitty exclaimed at breakfast her intention of writing to Jane, telling her of her pride in her own bonnet’s being gone to Italy!