PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
 by
 Jane Austen
 
 VOLUME ONE
 
Chapter 1

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
nay be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so
ell fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is
considered as the rightful property of some one or other of
heir daughters.
"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 not you want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife
impatiently.
" You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
This was invitation enough.
"Why, 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."
"What is his name?"
"Bingley."
"Is he married or single?"
"Oh!  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!
"How so?  how can it affect them?"
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so
tiresome!  You must know that I am thinking of his marrying
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 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."
"My dear, you flatter me.  I certainly have had my share of
beauty, but I do not pretend to be any thing extraordinary
now.  When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought
to give over thinking of her own beauty."
"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to
think of."
"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley
when he comes into the neighbourhood."
"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."
"But 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 new comers.  Indeed you must go, 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 him of my hearty consent to his marrying which
ever he chuses of the girls; though I must throw in a good
word for my little Lizzy."
"I 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."
"They have none of them much to recommend them,"
replied he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls;
but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters."
"Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such
way?  You take delight in vexing me.  You have no compassion
on my poor nerves."
"You mistake me, my dear.  I have a high respect for your
nerves.  They are my old friends.  I have heard you mention
hem with consideration these twenty years at least."
"Ah!  you do not know what I suffer."
"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young
men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."
"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 woman of mean understanding, little information,
and uncertain temper.  When she was discontented she fancied
herself nervous.  The business of her life was to get her daughters
married; its solace was visiting and news.