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Pride and Prejudice
A Novel in Three Volumes
by the Author of
“Sense and Sensibility”
Jane Austen
∂
1813 · pdf 2003
Volume I
Chapter 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
i rst entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well i xed in the minds of the
surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some
one or other of their daughters.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that
Netheri eld 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 Netheri eld 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 pos-
session 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 i ve
thousand a year. What a i ne 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 hand-
some as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party.”
3
“My dear, you l atter me. I certainly
have
had my share of beauty, but I
do not pretend to be any thing extraordinary now. When a woman has i ve
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, mere-
ly 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 chooses 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 oth-
ers; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good hu-
moured 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 them 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, re-
serve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been
insufi cient to make his wife understand his character.
Her
mind was less
difi cult to develope. She was a woman of mean understanding, little in-
formation, 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.
4
Chapter II
Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He
had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring 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 following manner.
Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly
addressed her with,
“I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.”
“We are not in a way to know
what
Mr. Bingley likes,” said her mother re-
sentfully, “since we are not to visit.”
“But you forget, mama,” said Elizabeth, “that we shall meet him at the as-
semblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him.”
“I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces
of her own. She is a seli sh, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of
her.”
“No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; “and I am glad to i nd that you do not
depend on her serving you.”
Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable to contain herself,
began scolding one of her daughters.
“Don’t keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven’s sake! Have a little compassion
on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.”
“Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,” said her father; “she times them
ill.”
“I do not cough for my own amusement,” replied Kitty fretfully.
“When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?”
“To-morrow fortnight.”
“Aye, so it is,” cried her mother, “and Mrs. Long does not come back till the
day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not
know him herself.”
“Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce
Mr. Bingley to
her
.”
her
.”
5
her
“Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him
myself; how can you be so teazing?”
“I honour your circumspection. A fortnight’s acquaintance is certainly
very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight.
But if we do not venture, somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and
her nieces must stand their chance; and therefore, as she will think it an act
of kindness, if you decline the ofi ce, I will take it on myself.”
The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, “Nonsense, non-
sense!”
“What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?” cried he. “Do
you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them,
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