Chapter 02A

CHAPTER II 

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waitedon Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him,though to the last always assuring his wife that heshould not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid, she hadno knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner.Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, hesuddenly addressed her with,‘I hope Mr. Bingley will like it Lizzy.’‘We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes,’ said hermother resentfully, ‘since we are not to visit.’‘But you forget, mama,’ said Elizabeth, ‘that we shall meet himat the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introducehim.’‘I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has twonieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I haveno opinion of her.’‘No more have I,’ said Mr. Bennet; ‘and I am glad to find thatyou do not depend on her serving you.’Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable tocontain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.‘Don’t keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven’s sake! Have a littlecompassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.’‘Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,’ said her father; ‘shetimes 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 comeback till the day before; so, it will be impossible for her to introducehim, for she will not know him herself.’‘Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, andintroduce Mr. Bingley to her.’‘Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquaintedwith him myself; how can you be so teazing?’‘I honour your circumspection. A fortnight’s acquaintance iscertainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by theend 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 declinethe office, I will take it on myself.’The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only,‘Nonsense, nonsense!’‘What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?’ criedhe. ‘Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress thatis laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there.What say you, Mary? for you are a young lady of deep reflection Iknow, and read great books, and make extracts.’Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.‘While Mary is adjusting her ideas,’ he continued, ‘let us returnto Mr. Bingley.’‘I am sick of Mr. Bingley,’ cried his wife.‘I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me so before? IfI had known as much this morning, I certainly would not havecalled on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.’