Pride and Prejudice - World Classic Novel (Full Color Translation Edition)

Author: (English) Austen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: A rich bachelor is bound to want to marry a wife, and this is a truth universally acknowledged. Such a bachelor, as soon as he moves to a new place, even if his neighbors have no idea of his character or opinions, will be regarded as the ideal husband for one of their daughters because this truth is firmly rooted in people's minds. On this day, Mrs. Bennet said mysteriously to her husband, "Dear, the Longbourn estate has been rented out. Have you heard about it?" "I haven't heard about it," Mr. Bennet replied gruffly. "It really has been rented out," she said tactlessly, "Mrs. Longbourn was here just now, and she told me everything." Mr. Bennet ignored her. "Do you want to know who rented it?" his wife snapped impatiently. "If you must tell me, then I don't mind listening." This seemed to stir Mrs. Bennet up. "Ah! Dear, let me tell you, Mrs. Longbourn said that a young man rented the Longbourn estate. He originally lived in the northern part of England. On Monday, he came to look at the house in a four-horse carriage and was very satisfied, agreeing with Mr. Morris on the spot. He plans to move in before the 'Michaelmas Festival' and will bring a few servants next weekend." "What's his name?" "Bingley." "Is he married or single?" "Ah! He's single, dear, and a rich bachelor! It's said he earns four or five thousand pounds a year. It would be a blessing for the children to live next door to him!" "What do you mean by that? How does that concern the daughters?" "Oh, my dear sir," Mrs. Bennet replied, "how can you be so stubborn and annoying! Let me tell you, I'm thinking about which daughter to marry him to. That would be wonderful!" "Is that why he's moving here?" "Nonsense, that's what you're saying! But he might take a liking to one of our daughters. As soon as he moves in, you must pay him a visit." "I won't. You can take the daughters, or better yet, let them go on their own. That might be even better, because compared to you, none of them are as beautiful as you are. If you go, Mr. Bingley might pick you instead!" Mr. Bennet teased. "Oh, stop it. You flatter me. There was a time when people did praise my beauty, but I wouldn't dare say that now. With five grown daughters, what beauty could I possibly have?" Mrs. Bennet said tactlessly. "So it seems you don't think much of your own beauty either!" "But, my dear sir, you really should pay Mr. Bingley a visit. You'll have to go as soon as he moves in." "To be honest, I won't agree to that!" Mr. Bennet refused. "For the sake of the daughters, please think about it. No matter which one of them marries someone like him, it would be a great thing. Sir William and Lady Catherine have decided to pay him a visit, and it's for the same reason. You know, they usually don't visit new neighbors. You must go. If you don't, how will we, your daughters, go?" "You're really going too far with this. Mr. Bingley will certainly be delighted to see you. You can take a letter for him, saying that no matter which daughter he chooses, I would gladly agree to the marriage. But I need to say a few good things about little Elizabeth (the nickname for the second daughter, Elizabeth) in the letter." "Don't do that. Elizabeth isn't any better than the other girls. In beauty, she can't match Jane half as well; in liveliness, she can't match Lydia half as well. Yet you favor her above all." "None of them are worth praising," Mr. Bennet replied, "They're just as foolish and ignorant as other girls' daughters; Elizabeth is much cleverer than her sisters." "My dear sir, how can you put your own daughter down so much? You're deliberately trying to annoy me. You don't show the least consideration for my nerves." "Don't misunderstand, my dear wife. I respect your nerves very much. They're old friends of mine. At least in the past 20 years, I've been hearing you talk very seriously about them." "Ah! How can you know my suffering!" "But I sincerely hope this condition improves, so you can see these rich young gentlemen with incomes of four or five thousand pounds a year moving in as your neighbors one after another." "If you don't visit them, even if 20 of them move in, what good will it do us!" "Don't worry, my dear wife. If 20 of them really move in, I will visit each one." Mr. Bennet was such a peculiar man—he enjoyed making jokes, his words were sharp and sarcastic, yet he rarely smiled, and his moods changed unpredictably. His wife, who had been married to him for 23 years, could never understand his temper. Her mind wasn't very sharp because she was an intelligent, uneducated, and moody woman. Whenever something didn't go her way, she believed she was suffering from nervous weakness. Marrying off her daughters was the only great matter in her life; visiting friends, making inquiries, and gathering news were the greatest comforts for her.