19 | Mr. Gardiner a.k.a. the uncle who out-parents everyone

Mr. Bennet gets all the quotable lines. Mr. Gardiner gets none of them — and does all the actual work. This week I'm making the case for the most underrated adult in Pride and Prejudice (and his wife), and what it means that Mary Bennet only gets to fall in love once she's finally living in their house instead of her own. Why the most important turning point in Lizzy's romance happens because of an uncle, not her father The real story behind who handled the Lydia-Wickham disaster (spoiler: not Mr. Bennet) What Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner reveal about the difference between loud devotion and real attention Come tell me who your favorite quietly-competent side character is over in the Society of Kindred Spirits — I read every comment. For everything else, worderella.com/links