"My
dear,
you
flatter
me.
I
certainly have had my share of beauty,
but I do not pretend to be anything
extraordinary now. When a woman has
five grown-up daughters, she ought to
give over thinking of her own beauty."
"In such cases, a woman has not often
much beauty to think of."
"But, my dear, you must indeed go and
see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the
neighbourhood." "It is more than I
engage for, I assure you."
"But consider your daughters. Only
think what an establishment it would be
for one of them. Sir William and Lady
Lucas are determined to go, merely on
that account, for in general, you know,
they visit no newcomers. Indeed you
must go, for it will be impossible for us to
visit him if you do not."
"You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare
say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see
you; and I will send a few lines by you to
assure him of my hearty consent to his
marrying whichever he chooses of the
girls; though I must throw in a good word
for my little Lizzy."
"I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy
is not a bit better than the others; and I
am sure she is not half so handsome as
Jane, nor half so good-humoured as
Lydia. But you are always giving her the
preference."
"They have none of them much to
recommend them," replied he; "they are
all silly and ignorant like other girls; but
Lizzy has something more of quickness
than her sisters."
"Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your
own children in such a way? You take
delight in vexing me. You have no
compassion for my poor nerves." "You
mistake me, my dear. I have a high
respect for your nerves. They are my old
friends. I have heard you mention them
with consideration these last twenty
years at least."
"Ah, you do not know what I suffer."
"But I hope you will get over it, and live
to see many young men of four
thousand a year come into the
neighbourhood."
"It will be no use to us, if twenty such
should come, since you will not visit
them."
"Depend upon it, my dear, that when
there are twenty, I will visit them all."
Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of
quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve,
and caprice, that the experience of
three-and- twenty years had been
insufficient to make his wife understand
his
character. Her mind
was
less
difficult to develop.