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Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen.

Table of Contents Titlepage Imprint I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII XXXVIII XXXIX XL XLI XLII XLIII XLIV XLV XLVI XLVII XLVIII XLIX L LI LII LIII LIV LV LVI LVII LVIII LIX LX LXI Colophon Uncopyright Imprint

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I

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 as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

β€œMy dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, β€œhave you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

β€œBut it is,” returned she; β€œfor Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

β€œDo not you want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.

β€œYou want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”

This was invitation enough.

β€œWhy, 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.”

β€œWhat is his name?”

β€œBingley.”

β€œIs he married or single?”

β€œOh! 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!”

β€œHow so? how can it affect them?”

β€œMy dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, β€œhow can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.”

β€œIs that his design in settling here?”

β€œDesign! 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.”

β€œI 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 might like you the best of the party.”

β€œMy 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.”

β€œIn such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”

β€œBut, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.”

β€œIt is more than I engage for, I assure you.”

β€œBut 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.”

β€œYou 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 which ever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”

β€œI 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.”

β€œThey have none of them much to recommend them,” replied he; β€œthey are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.”

β€œMr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves.”

β€œYou 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 twenty years at least.”

β€œAh! you do not know what I suffer.”

β€œBut I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a

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