Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austin

      Chapter 1

      Pride and Prejudice

      By Jane Austen

      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.