Culture
01 - Chapter 01
In the opening chapter of Jane Austen's classic, the arrival of a wealthy bachelor, Mr. Bingley, stirs excitement among the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet is particularly eager for her daughters to w...
01 - Chapter 01
Culture •
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CHAPTER I.
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It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune
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must be in want of a wife.
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However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering
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a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families
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that he is considered the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.
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My dear Mr. Bennet, said his lady to him one day, have you heard that Netherfield Park
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has let it last?
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Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
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But it is, return she, for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.
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Mr. Bennet may no answer.
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Do you not want to know who has taken it?
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Cryt his wife impatiently.
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You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.
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This was invitation enough.
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Why my dear, you must know Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of
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large fortune from the north of England, that he came down on Monday in a sheds and
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fort to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Moriss immediately,
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that he is to take possession before Micklemas, and some of his servants are to be in the house
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by the end of next week.
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What is his name?
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Bingley, is he married or single?
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Oh, single my dear to be sure, a single man of large fortune, four or five thousand a year,
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what a fine thing for our girls.
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How so?
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How can it affect them?
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My dear Mr. Bennet replied his wife.
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How can you be so tiresome?
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You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.
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Is that his design and settling here?
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Design!
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Nonsense!
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How can you talk so?
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But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must
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visit him as soon as he comes.
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I see no occasion for that.
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You and the girls may go.
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Or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are
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as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.
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My dear, you flatter me.
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I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary
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now.
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When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.
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In such cases a woman has not often much beauty to think of.
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But my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.
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It is more than I engage for I assure you.
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But consider your daughters.
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Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them.
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So will ye, and lady Lucas, are determined to go merely on that account, for in general
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you know they visit no new covers.
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Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not.
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You are over a scrupulous surely.
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I dare say, Mr. Bingley, will be very glad to see you, and I will send a few lines by
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you to assure him of my very hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the
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girls, though I must through in a good word for my little Lizzie.
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I desire you will do no such thing.
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Lizzie is not a bit better than the others, and I am sure she is not half-so-handsome as
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Jane, nor half-so-good-humid as Lydia.
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But you are always giving her the preference.
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They have none of them much to recommend to them.
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Reply'd he.
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They are all silly and ignorant like other girls.
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But Lizzie has something more of quickness than her sisters.
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Mr. Bennett, how can you abuse your own children in such a way?
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You take delight in vexing me.
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You have no compassion for my poor nerves.
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You mistake me, my dear.
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I have a high respect for your nerves.
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They are my old friends.
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I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.
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Oh, you do not know what I suffer.
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But I hope you'll get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year
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come into the neighborhood.
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It will be no use to us if twenty such would come, since you will not visit them.
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Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty I will visit them all.
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Mr. Bennett was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve and caprice,
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that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand
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his character.
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Her mind was less difficult to develop.
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She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper.
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When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous.
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The business of her life was to get her daughters married.
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Its solace was visiting, and news.
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End of chapter 1