Jane Austen
no change was visible in either, except that the loss of her favourite sister, or the anger
which she had herself incurred in this business, had given more of fretfulness than usual to
the accents of Kitty. As for Mary, she was mistress enough of herself to whisper to
Elizabeth, with a countenance of grave reflection, soon after they were seated at table:
"This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much talked of. But we must stem
the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly
consolation."
Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added, "Unhappy as the
event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful lesson: that loss of virtue in a
female is irretrievable; that one false step involves her in endless ruin; that her reputation is
no less brittle than it is beautiful; and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour
towards the undeserving of the other sex."
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