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Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single ood fortune, must be in want of a wife

However little known the feelings or views of such a hbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in thefahtful property of sohters

"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 knoho has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently

"You want to tellit"

This was invitation enough

"Why,says that Netherfield is taken by a young land; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so reed 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 le?"

"Oh! Single, e 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 tireso 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 o, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsoley may like you the best of the party"

"My dear, you flatter me I certainly have hadextraordinary now When a woive over thinking of her own beauty"

"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of"

"But, ley when he cohbourhood"

"It is e for, I assure you"

"But consider your daughters Only think what an establishment it would be for one of theo, eneral, you know, they visit no newcoo, 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 hi whichever he chooses of the girls; though I ood word for my little Lizzy"

"I desire you will do no such thing Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I aood-hu her the preference"

"They have none of them much to reconorant like other girls; but Lizzy has so 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 h 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 knohat I suffer"

"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see hbourhood"

"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 wo, little information, and uncertain temper When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous The business of her life was to get her daughtersand news

Chapter 2

Mr Bennet was aley He had always intended to visit hi 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 followinga hat, he suddenly addressed her with: