110 lines
4.1 KiB
Plaintext
110 lines
4.1 KiB
Plaintext
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
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possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
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However little known the feelings or views of such a man may
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be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well
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fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered
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the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
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"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you
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heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
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Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
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"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and
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she told me all about it."
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Mr. Bennet made no answer.
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"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife
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impatiently.
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"_You_ want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
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This was invitation enough.
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"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield
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is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of
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England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to
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see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed
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with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession
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before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the
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house by the end of next week."
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"What is his name?"
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"Bingley."
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"Is he married or single?"
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"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large
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fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our
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girls!"
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"How so? How can it affect them?"
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"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so
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tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying
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one of them."
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"Is that his design in settling here?"
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"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely
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that he _may_ fall in love with one of them, and therefore you
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must visit him as soon as he comes."
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"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you
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may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still
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better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley
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may like you the best of the party."
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"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly _have_ had my share of
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beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.
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When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give
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over thinking of her own beauty."
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"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."
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"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when
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he comes into the neighbourhood."
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"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."
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"But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment
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it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are
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determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you
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know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will
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be impossible for _us_ to visit him if you do not."
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"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will
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be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to
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assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he
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chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for
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my little Lizzy."
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"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better
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than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as
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Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always
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giving _her_ the preference."
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"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he;
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"they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy
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has something more of quickness than her sisters."
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"Mr. Bennet, how _can_ you abuse your own children in such a
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way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion
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for my poor nerves."
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"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your
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nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention
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them with consideration these last twenty years at least."
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Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour,
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reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty
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years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his
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character. _Her_ mind was less difficult to develop. She was a
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woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain
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temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous.
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The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its
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solace was visiting and news.
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