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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。’ 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                   ElecBook 


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                       Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                           8 



    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。’ 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                          ElecBook 


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                      Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                           9 



    ‘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。’ 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                         ElecBook 


… Page 10…

                        Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                               10 



    ‘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。 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                               ElecBook 


… Page 11…

                      Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                        11 



                              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。 



Classics in Literature: Jane Austen                                       ElecBook 


… Page 12…

                       Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice                          12 



    ‘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

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