Itisatruthuniversallyacknowledged,thatasinglemaninpossessionofagoodfortune,mustbeinwantofawife.
Howeverlittleknownthefeelingsorviewsofsuchamanmaybeonhisenteringaneighbourhood,thistruthissowellfixedinthemindsofthesurroundingfamilies,thatheisconsideredastherightfulpropertyofsomeoneorotheroftheirdaughters.
"MydearMr.Bennet,"saidhisladytohimoneday,"haveyouheardthatNetherfieldParkisletatlast?"
Mr.Bennetrepliedthathehadnot.
"Butitis,"returnedshe,"forMrs.Longhasjustbeenhere,andshetoldmeallaboutit."
"Donotyouwanttoknowwhohastakenit?"
"Youwanttotellme,andIhavenoobjectiontohearingit."
"Why,mydear,youmustknow,Mrs.LongsaysthatNetherfieldistakenbyayoungmanoflargefortunefromthenorthofEngland;thathecamedownonMondayinachaiseandfourtoseetheplace,andwassomuchdelightedwithitthatheagreedwithMr.Morrisimmediately;thatheistotakepossessionbeforeMichaelmas,andsomeofhisservantsaretobeinthehousebytheendofnextweek."
"Oh,single,mydear,tobesure!
Asinglemanoflargefortune;fourorfivethousandayear.
Whatafinethingforourgirls!"
"Howso?Howcanitaffectthem?"
"MydearMr.Bennet,"repliedhiswife,"howcanyoubesotiresome!
YoumustknowthatIamthinkingofhismarryingoneofthem."
"Isthathisdesigninsettlinghere?"
"Design!Nonsense,howcanyoutalkso!
Butitisverylikelythathemayfallinlovewithoneofthem,andthereforeyoumustvisithimassoonashecomes."