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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 his wife。
‘I am sorry to hear that； but why did not you tell me so before？ If
I had known as much this morning； I certainly would not have
called on him。 It is very unlucky； but as I have actually paid the
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visit； we cannot escape the acquaintance now。’
The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished； that of
Mrs。 Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest； though when the first
tumult of joy was over； she began to declare that it was what she
had expected all the while。
‘How good it was in you； my dear Mr。 Bennet！ But I knew I
should persuade you at last。 I was sure you loved your girls too well
to neglect such an acquaintance。 Well； how pleased I am！ and it is
such a good joke； too； that you should have gone this morning； and
never said a word about it till now。’
‘Now； Kitty； you may cough as much as you chuse；’ said Mr。
Bennet； and； as he spoke； he left the room； fatigued with the
raptures of his wife。
‘What an excellent father you have； girls；’ said she； when the
door was shut。 ‘I do not know how you will ever make him amends
for his kindness； or me either； for that matter。 At our time of life； it
is not so pleasant I can tell you； to be making new acquaintance
every day； but for your sakes； we would do any thing。 Lydia； my
love； though you are the youngest； I dare say Mr。 Bingley will
dance with you at the next ball。’
‘Oh！’ said Lydia stoutly； ‘I am not afraid； for though I am the
youngest； I’m the tallest。’
The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he
would return Mr。 Bennet’s visit； and determining when they
should ask him to dinner。
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CHAPTER III
ot all that Mrs。 Bennet； however； with the assistance of
her five daughters； could ask on the subject was
Nsufficient to draw from her husband any satisfactory
description of Mr。 Bingley。 They attacked him in various ways；
with barefaced questions； ingenious suppositions； and distant
surmises； but he eluded the skill of them all； and they were at last
obliged to accept the second…hand intelligence of their neighbour
Lady Lucas。