Читать книгу Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin, Jane Austin - Страница 4

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 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 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.

“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 choose,” 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

acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we would do

anything. 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.