AConversationbetweenMr.andMrs.Bennet
Itisatruthuniversallyacknowledged,
thatasinglemaninpossessionofagoodfortune,
mustbeinwantofawife.
Howeverlittleknownthefeelingsorviewsofsuchaman
maybeonhisenteringaneighbourhood,
thistruthissowellfixedinthemindsofthesurroundingfamilies,
thatheisconsideredastherightfulproperty
ofsomeoneorotheroftheirdaughters.
“MydearMr.Bennet,”saidhisladytohimoneday,
“haveyouheardthatNetherfieldParkisletatlast?”
Mr.Bennetrepliedthathehadnot.
“forMrs.Longhasjustbeenhere,
andshetoldmeallaboutit.”
“Donotyouwanttoknowwhohastakenit?”
“Youwanttotellme,andIhavenoobjectiontohearingit.”
Mrs.LongsaysthatNetherfieldistakenbyayoungman
oflargefortunefromthenorthofEngland;
thathecamedownonMondayinachaiseandfourtoseetheplace,
andwassomuchdelightedwithit
thatheagreedwithMr.Morrisimmediately;
thatheistotakepossessionbeforeMichaelmas,
andsomeofhisservantsaretobeinthehouse
bytheendofnextweek.”
“Oh,single,mydear,tobesure!
Asinglemanoflargefortune;fourorfivethousandayear.
Whatafinethingforourgirls!”
“Howso?Howcanitaffectthem?”
“MydearMr.Bennet,”repliedhiswife,
YoumustknowthatIamthinkingofhismarryingoneofthem.”
“Isthathisdesigninsettlinghere?”
“Design!Nonsense,howcanyoutalkso!
Butitisverylikelythathemayfallinlovewithoneofthem,
andthereforeyoumustvisithimassoonashecomes.”