A few years ago there was a reality show where a group of people lived in an estate in the manner they would have then (I believe the time frame was early 1800's), and they almost went out of their heads with boredom! Perhaps this is one reason for such highly polished manners: the only way to find entertainment was in company, and to stand each other for weeks on end, you had to be awfully nice to be around!;) Books, games, music -- not much else but chat. And notice how the ladies are always occupied with needlework; JA makes fun of Mrs. Hurst for being "principally occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings", implying she is not a woman of deep resources. Anything to keep the mind occupied.
But more to your point, Jaimy, maybe that's why people fled the country to the diversions of London and Bath whenever the days got shorter.
But more to your point, Jaimy, maybe that's why people fled the country to the diversions of London and Bath whenever the days got shorter.