登陆注册
3553800000001

第1章

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.

'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 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 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 a 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,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 develope.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.

II

M r. 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 resentfully,'since we are not to visit.'

'But you forget,mama,'said Elizabeth,'that we shall meet him at the assemblies,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 selfish,hypocritical woman,and I have no opinion of her.'

'No more have I,'said Mr. Bennet;'and I am glad to find 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.'

同类推荐
  • 题云际寺上方

    题云际寺上方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • On the Heavens

    On the Heavens

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上日月混元经

    太上日月混元经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 一切如来名号陀罗尼经

    一切如来名号陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 膳夫录

    膳夫录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 阴阳师妖行录

    阴阳师妖行录

    行走于平安世界,讲诉每一只妖怪背后的故事……(本书纯属脑洞,请勿照搬原设定)
  • 本草述钩元

    本草述钩元

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 运河天地之运河武工队

    运河天地之运河武工队

    1942年,苏运昌奉冀东军分区之命,回到日伪严密防范的通县、香河和武清等地组建敌后武工队的工作,在通县,与日伪集团进行了严酷而激烈的交锋,最终建起了纵横三县的运河武工队。
  • 雪球专刊·国庆特辑086·雪球达人秀

    雪球专刊·国庆特辑086·雪球达人秀

    雪球是目前国内最专业的投资社交网络,致力于为投资者提供跨市场、跨品种的数据查询、新闻订阅和互动交流服务,目前已覆盖A股、港股和美股市场。作为雪球的核心用户,雪球里投资达人的投资理念是怎样的?在投资的道理上,他们有哪些宝贵的经验与大家分享?请看本期雪球专刊国庆特辑——《雪球达人秀》。
  • 不合常规的飞翔

    不合常规的飞翔

    温亚军,现为北京武警总部某文学杂志主编。著有长篇小说伪生活等六部,小说集硬雪、驮水的日子等七部。获第三届鲁迅文学奖,第十一届庄重文文学奖,《小说选刊》《中国作家》和《上海文学》等刊物奖,入选中国小说学会排行榜。中国作家协会会员。
  • 太极葛仙公传

    太极葛仙公传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 亲爱的盖世猫熊

    亲爱的盖世猫熊

    “我的意中人是个盖世猫熊,有一天他会踩着饺子皮,披着西瓜盔甲,戴着肯德基帽子,背着一麻袋吃的来找我”,少女双手相握一脸憧憬的对面前的男子说道。白黎上下打量了圆的跟个球似得少女,嘴角抽了又抽,忍无可忍的嫌弃道:“特么的白小染你有毒吧!”
  • 纳尼亚传奇3:黎明号的远航(中文朗读版)

    纳尼亚传奇3:黎明号的远航(中文朗读版)

    《纳尼亚传奇》系列作品对后世作家影响深远,包括《哈利波特》系列的作者J·K·罗琳都曾表示自己深受C·S·刘易斯作品的影响。随着《纳尼亚传奇》系列故事改编成电影,全世界更多观众和读者开始认识这部不朽的作品。穿梭在一个又一个的纳尼亚冒险故事中,这绝对是你一生难忘的神奇旅程……
  • 经济法理论与实训教程

    经济法理论与实训教程

    经济法是我国社会主义法律体系中的重要组成部分,是一门独立的部门法。经济法是国家对社会的经济活动实行宏观调控与管理的重要工具,是国家机关、企事业单位、各种社会经济组织以及公民个人在社会经济活动中的行为准则。
  • 绝世盛宠之腹黑傻王甜心妃

    绝世盛宠之腹黑傻王甜心妃

    “和爹爹说甜言蜜语的功夫比起来,叔叔这点儿本事根本就是小巫见大巫啊!你们两个那甜甜腻腻的模样,让我看了牙齿都快酸倒了。”说着,小爱立马用双手捂住自己的腮帮子,一脸酸涩的表情。“如今,你却说叔叔他们这样不好。看样子,真如那句老话说的。当局者迷!敢情你自己根本就没有感觉啊。”“小丫头片子,你这是在洗涮你娘吗?”小爱本来就是一个戏精,如今更是将自己往日的内心感受表现得淋漓尽致。被女儿吐槽自己和老公天天太腻歪,田昕顿时羞红了脸。“难道女儿说错了吗?”“当然错了。”看小爱还敢跟自己狡辩,田昕立马为自己辩解起来。“你叔叔和八王妃成亲多年,我和你爹却不是。我们……”“对!爹爹和娘亲是小别胜新婚!”“小正,你这词用得不妥。”“文漠!?”看伯文漠突然在小正的面前蹲下来,田昕还以为他是想帮自己。没成想,他一开口她就差点儿跪倒下去。“爹爹和你娘亲是先结婚,再谈的恋爱。所以,我们现在正值热恋期。这热恋期的男女,本来就应该像这样,亲亲热热甜甜蜜蜜。你和你妹妹,那都是意外。”