CHAPTER XI

estdelay,thechildrenwereneverallowedtobelongadisturbancetohim,eitherinthemselvesorinanyrestlessattendanceonthem. Mrs.JohnKnightleywasapretty,elegantlittlewoman,ofgentle,quietmanners,andadispositionremarkablyamiableandaffectionatewraptupinherfamilyadevotedwife,adoatingmother,andsotenderlyattachedtoherfatherandsisterthat,butforthesehigherties,awarmerlovemighthaveseemedimpossible.Shecouldneverseeafaultinanyofthem.Shewasnotawomanofstrongunderstandingoranyquicknessandwiththisresemblanceofherfather,sheinheritedalsomuchofhisconstitutionwasdelicateinherownhealth,over-carefulofthatofherchildren,hadmanyfearsandmanynerves,andwasasfondofherownMr.WingfieldintownasherfathercouldbeofMr.Perry.Theywerealiketoo,inageneralbenevolenceoftemper,andastronghabitofregardforeveryoldacquaintance. Mr.JohnKnightleywasatall,gentleman-like,andveryclevermanrisinginhisprofession,domestic,andrespectableinhisprivatecharacterbutwithreservedmannerswhichpreventedhisbeinggenerallypleasingandcapableofbeingsometimesoutofhumour.Hewasnotanill-temperedman,notsooftenunreasonablycrossastodeservesuchareproachbuthistemperwasnothisgreatperfectionand,indeed,withsuchaworshippingwife,itwashardlypossiblethatanynaturaldefectsinitshouldnotbeincreased.Theextremesweetnessofhertempermusthurthis.Hehadalltheclearnessandquicknessofmindwhichshewanted,andhecouldsometimesactanungracious,orsayaseverething. Hewasnotagreatfavouritewithhisfairsister-in-law.Nothingwronginhimescapedher.ShewasquickinfeelingthelittleinjuriestoIsabella,whichIsabellaneverfeltherself.PerhapsshemighthavepassedovermorehadhismannersbeenflatteringtoIsabella’ssister,buttheywereonlythoseofacalmlykindbrotherandfriend,withoutpraiseandwithoutblindnessbuthardlyanydegreeofpersonalcomplimentcouldhavemadeherregardlessofthatgreatestfaultofallinhereyeswhichhesometimesfellinto,thewantofrespectfulforbearancetowardsherfather.Therehehadnotalwaysthepatiencethatcouldhavebeenwished.Mr.Woodhouse’speculiaritiesandfidgetinessweresometimesprovokinghimtoa