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heard that Netherfield Park is let at last？’
Mr。 Bennet replied that he had not。
‘But it is；’ returned she； ‘for Mrs。 Long has just been here； and
she told me all about it。’
Mr。 Bennet made no answer。
‘Do not you want to know who has taken it？’ cried his wife
impatiently。
‘You want to tell me； and I have no objection to hearing it。’
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This was invitation enough。
‘Why； my dear； you must know； Mrs。 Long says that Netherfield
is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of
England； that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see
the place； and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with
Mr。 Morris immediately； that he is to take possession before
Michaelmas； and some of his servants are to be in the house by the
end of next week。’
‘What is his name？’
‘Bingley。’
‘Is he married or single？’
‘Oh！ single； my dear； to be sure！ A single man of large fortune；
four or five thousand a year。 What a fine thing for our girls！’
‘How so？ how can it affect them？’
‘My dear Mr。 Bennet；’ replied his wife； ‘how can you be so
tiresome！ You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of
them。’
‘Is that his design in settling here？’
‘Design！ nonsense； how can you talk so！ But it is very likely that
he may fall in love with one of them； and therefore you must visit
him as soon as he comes。’
‘I see no occasion for that。 You and the girls may go； or you may
send them by themselves； which perhaps will be still better； for as
you are as handsome as any of them； Mr。 Bingley might like you
the best of the party。’
‘My dear； you flatter me。 I certainly have had my share of
beauty； but I do not pretend to be any thing extraordinary now。
When a woman has five grown up daughters； she ought to give
over thinking of her own beauty。’
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‘In such cases； a woman has not often much beauty to think of。’
‘But； my dear； you must indeed go and see Mr。 Bingley when he
comes into the neighbourhood。’
‘It is more than I engage for； I assure you。’
‘But consider your daughters。 Only think what an establishment
it would be for one of them。 Sir William and Lady Lucas are
determined to go； merely on that account； for in general you know
they visit no new comers。 Indeed you must go； for it will be
impossible for us to visit him； if you do not。’
‘You are over scrupulous surely。 I dare say Mr。 Bingley will be
very glad to see you； and I will send a few lines by you to assure
him of my hearty consent to his marrying which ever he chuses of
the girls； though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy。’
‘I desire you will do no such thing。 Lizzy is not a bit better than
the others； and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane； nor
half so good humoured as Lydia。 But you are always giving her the
preference。’
‘They have none of them much to recommend them；’ replied he；
‘they are all silly and ignorant like other girls； but Lizzy has
something more of quickness than her sisters。’
‘Mr。 Bennet； how can you abuse your own children in such a
way？ You take delight in vexing me。 You have no compassion on
my poor nerves。’
‘You mistake me； my dear。 I have a high respect for your nerves。
They are my old friends。 I have heard you mention them with
consideration these twenty years at least。’
‘Ah！ you do not know what I suffer。’
‘But I hope you will get over it； and live to see many young men
of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood。’
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‘It will be no use to us； if twenty such should come since you will
not visit them。’
‘Depend upon it； my dear； that when there are twenty； I will
visit them all。’
Mr。 Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts； sarcastic
humour； reserve； and caprice； that the experience of three and
twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his
character。 Her mind was less difficult to develope。 She was a
woman of mean understanding； little information； and uncertain
temper。 When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous。
The business of her life was to get her daughters married： its
solace was visiting and news。
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CHAPTER II
r。 Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited
on Mr。 Bingley。 He had always intended to visit him；
M
though to the last always assuring his wife that he
should not go； and till the evening after the visit was paid； she had
no knowledge of it。 It was then disclosed in the following manner。
Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat； he
suddenly addressed her with；
‘I hope Mr。 Bingley will like it Lizzy。’
‘We are not in a way to know what Mr。 Bingley likes；’ said her
mother resentfully； ‘since we are not to visit。’
‘But you forget； mama；’ said Elizabeth； ‘that we shall meet him
at the assemblies； and that Mrs。 Long has promised to introduce
him。’
‘I do not believe Mrs。 Long will do any such thing。 She has two
nieces of her own。 She is a selfish； hypocritical woman； and I have
no opinion of her。’
‘No more have I；’ said Mr。 Bennet； ‘and I am glad to find that
you do not depend on her serving you。’
Mrs。 Bennet deigned not to make any reply； but unable to
contain herself； began scolding one of her daughters。
‘Don’t keep coughing so； Kitty； for heaven’s sake！ Have a little
compassion on my nerves。 You tear them to pieces。’
‘Kitty has no discretion in her coughs；’ said her father； ‘she
times them ill。’
‘I do not cough for my own amusement；’ replied Kitty fretfully。
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‘When is your next ball to be； Lizzy？’
‘To…morrow fortnight。’
‘Aye； so it is；’ cried her mother； ‘and Mrs。 Long does not come
back till the day before； so； it will be impossible for her to introduce
him； for she will not know him herself。’
‘Then； my dear； you may have the advantage of your friend； and
introduce Mr。 Bingley to her。’
‘Impossible； Mr。 Bennet； impossible； when I am not acquainted
with him myself； how can you be so teazing？’
‘I honour your circumspection。 A fortnight’s acquaintance is
certainly very little。 One cannot know what a man really is by the
end of a fortnight。 But if we do not venture； somebody else will；
and after all； Mrs。 Long and her nieces must stand their chance；
and therefore； as she will think it an act of kindness； if you decline
the office； I will take it on myself。’
The girls stared at their father。 Mrs。 Bennet said only；
‘Nonsense； nonsense！’
‘What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation？’ cried
he。 ‘Do you consider the forms of introduction； and the stress that
is laid on them； as nonsense？ I cannot quite agree with you there。
What say you； Mary？ for you are a young lady of deep reflection I
know； and read great books； and make extracts。’
Mary wished to say something very sensible； but knew not how。
‘While Mary is adjusting her ideas；’ he continued； ‘let us return
to Mr。 Bingley。’
‘I am sick of Mr。 Bingley；’ cried h