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
resentfully, "since we are not to visit."
"But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the
assemblies, and that Mrs. Long 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 her-
self, began scolding one of her daughters.
"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven's sake! Have a little compas-
sion 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 intro-
duce Mr. Bingley to her."
"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him
myself; how can you be so teasing?"
"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 daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as she will think it an
act of kindness, if you decline the 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?" cried he. "Do
you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is 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, I know, and read great books and
make extracts."
Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how.
"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr.
Bingley."
"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.
"I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before? If I had
known as much this morning I certainly would not have called on him. It is
very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the ac-
quaintance now."
The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs.
Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy was
over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while.
"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should per-
suade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an
acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a good joke, too, that
you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now."
"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," said Mr. Bennet;
and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.
"What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the door was
shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness;
or me, either, for that matter. At our time of life it is not so pleasant, I can
tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we
would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say
Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."
"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest,
I'm the tallest."
The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would re-
turn Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to
dinner.
