His being tired doesn't help either. No one wants to believe there are deeper problems behind surprising misbehavior even on a good day. I can't blame him, but it is frustrating and sad knowing how it will turn out.

They do have enough strength to not look as if anything's wrong; I admire that. But they don't have the understanding to find something other than pleasure and appearance to draw strength from. It wasn't encouraged in them, like how Fanny wasn't encouraged to prop herself on the things that give them importance. She was lucky - not to be abused, but to find something else in her books and love of poetry, nature, etcetera. They could only serve her internally, since no one but Edmund was praising her for being accomplished in those things. Reign within.

At least someone got something out of the ordeal!