Читать книгу Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin, Jane Austin - Страница 3

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.