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'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 there-

fore 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 might like you the best of the party.'

'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 estab-

lishment 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 daresay 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.'

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