Pride and Prejudice (Complete Works of Jane Austen)

Author: Jane Austen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-08-01
Features: Excerpt: Chapter 2 Although Mr. Bennet consistently maintained in front of his wife that he did not wish to pay a visit to Mr. Bingley, he had been privately planning to meet him and had even become one of the people intending to call on him. It was not until the very next evening after his visit that his wife discovered this. The truth came out in the following way—He happened to see his second daughter folding a hat and suddenly said, "I hope Mr. Bingley will like this hat, Lizzy." "Since we are not going to pay a visit to Mr. Bingley, why should we care what he thinks of it," her mother retorted indignantly. "Don't forget, mother," Elizabeth said, "we will meet him at the ball, and Mrs. Long has promised to introduce us." "As if Mrs. Long would agree to do that, she has two nieces of her own. She is selfish, insincere, and I despise such people." "I do too," Mr. Bennet said, "I love hearing you say that you don't expect any help from her." Mrs. Bennet paid no attention to him but could not help being angry and took it out on one of her daughters. "Stop coughing all the time, Kitty. For God's sake, show a little consideration for my nerves, you are nearly breaking them." "Kitty is so thoughtless," her father said, "she doesn't even choose a good time to cough." "I am not coughing on purpose," Kitty said irritably. "When is your ball, Lizzy?" "There are two weeks to go from tomorrow." "Oh, really," her mother exclaimed, "Mrs. Long won't be back until the day before the ball, so by then she won't have time to introduce Mr. Bingley to us, and she doesn't even know him herself." "Then, my dear wife, you will be one step ahead of your friend and can introduce this distinguished gentleman to her." "No, Mr. Bennet, that is not possible. I don't even know him myself, how can I make such a joke?" "I really admire how you think of everything in such a thorough way. Two weeks' acquaintance is certainly not enough to understand a person at all. However, if we don't try, someone else will—Mrs. Long and her two nieces will certainly try. In any case, she will think it is a gesture of goodwill on our part. Therefore, if you are unwilling to introduce him, I will do it myself." The daughters stared straight at their father. Mrs. Bennet said casually, "Nonsense, nonsense." "Why are you making such a fuss!" Mr. Bennet roared, "Do you think it is nonsense to make an introduction for someone? I don't agree with you. What do you think, Mary? I know you are a very sensible girl, you read all those great novels and even took notes." Mary was very eager to say something weighty, but for the moment she did not know how to express it. "Let Mary consider before giving her opinion," Mr. Bennet continued, "and let's talk about Mr. Bingley again." "I hate talking about him," Mrs. Bennet cried out.