Chapter 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged
that a single man in possession of a
good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or
views of such a man may be on his first
entering a neighbourhood, this truth is
so well fixed in the minds of the
surrounding families, that he is
considered the rightful property of some
one or other of their daughters.
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to
him one day, "have you heard that
Netherfield Park is let at last?"
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long
has just been here, and she told me all
about it."
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
"Do you not want to know who has taken
it?" cried his wife impatiently. "You want to
tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.
This was invitation enough.
"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long
says that Netherfield is taken by a young
man of large fortune from the north of
England; that he came down on Monday in
a chaise and four to see the place, and was
so much delighted with it, that he agreed
with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to
take possession before Michaelmas, and
some of his servants are to be in the house
by the end of next week."
"What is his name?"
"Bingley."
"Is he married or single?"
"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single
man of large fortune; four or five thousand a
year. What a fine thing for our girls!"
"How so? How can it affect them?"
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife,
"how can you be so tiresome! You must
know that I am thinking of his marrying one
of them."
"Is that his design in settling here?"
"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But
it is very likely that he may fall in love with
one of them, and therefore you must visit
him as soon as he comes."
"I see no occasion for that. You and the
girls may go, or you may send them by
themselves, which perhaps will be still
better, for as you are as handsome as any of
them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of
the party."