CHAPTER II.
Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. Hehad always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring hiswife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit waspaid, she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the followingmanner. 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 her motherresentfully, ”since we are not to visit.”
”But you forget, mama,” said Elizabeth, ”that we shall meet him at theassemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him.”
”I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two niecesof her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinionof her.”
”No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; ”and I am glad to find that you donot depend on her serving you.”
Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable to containherself, 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; ”she timesthem 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 backtill 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 introduceMr. Bingley to _her_.”
”Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with himmyself; how can you be so teazing?”
”I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainlyvery little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of afortnight. But if _we_ do not venture, somebody else will; and afterall, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and therefore, asshe will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I willtake 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. ”Doyou consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid onthem, 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 greatbooks, and make extracts.”
Mary wished to say something very 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 so before? If Ihad known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called onhim. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, wecannot escape the acquaintance 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 joywas over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all thewhile.
”How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I shouldpersuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well toneglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such agood joke, too, that you should have gone this morning, and never saida word about it till now.”
”Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you chuse,” 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 wasshut. ”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 sopleasant I can tell you, to be making new acquaintance every day; butfor your sakes, we would do any thing. Lydia, my love, though you _are_the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the nextball.”
”Oh!” said Lydia stoutly, ”I am not afraid; for though I _am_ theyoungest, I'm the tallest.”
The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he wouldreturn Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him todinner.