Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice.pdf - Literatura - lektury - patrycja2468

PRIDE AND

PREJUDICE

By Jane Austen

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in

possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be

on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in

the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the

rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you

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 you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife

impatiently.

" You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."

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 may 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 anything extraordinary now. When a

woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking

of her own beauty."

"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 newcomers. 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 whichever he chooses 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 for

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 last 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."

"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 develop. 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.

Chapter 2

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr.

Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, 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, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him

at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long 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.

"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 teasing?"

"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 daughters 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 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 that 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

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.

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