{{prxprp002.jpg}} || 2 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

'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 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 any thing 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 establish-'

ment 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 new comers. 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 which ever he

chuses 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.'

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