“. . . if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.”
Mr. Bennet, to his wife, who had forced Jane to ride to Netherfield on horseback through the rain
Mrs. Bennet may have been ridiculous, but she still had some power over her daughters, even though they had so much more sense than she did.
Pride and Prejudice, Vol 1, Ch 7
The Jane Austen Guide to Life: Thoughtful Lessons for the Modern Woman (May, 2012)
A Walk with Jane Austen: A Journey into Adventure, Love, and Faith