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CHAPTER 2
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Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley.
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He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that
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he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no
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knowledge of it.
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It was then disclosed in the following manner.
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Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her
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with:
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"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy." "We are not in a way to know what Mr.
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Bingley likes," said her mother resentfully, "since we are not to visit."
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"But you forget, mamma," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the assemblies,
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and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him."
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"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing.
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She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I
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have no opinion of her."
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"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do not depend on
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her serving you."
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Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain herself, began
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scolding one of her daughters. "Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for
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Heaven's sake!
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Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."
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"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times them ill."
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"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully.
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"When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?" "To-morrow fortnight."
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"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day
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before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him
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herself."
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"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley
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to her."
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"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can
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you be so teasing?" "I honour your circumspection.
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A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little.
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One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight.
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But if we do not venture somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her
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daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as she will think it an act of
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kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself."
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The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, "Nonsense,
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nonsense!"
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"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried he.
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"Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as
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nonsense?
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I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary?
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For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great books
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and make extracts."
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Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how.
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"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr. Bingley."
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"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.
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"I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before?
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If I had known as much this morning I certainly would not have called on him.
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It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the
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acquaintance now."
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The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps
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surpassing the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to
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declare that it was what she had expected all the while.
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"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet!
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But I knew I should persuade you at last.
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I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance.
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Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone
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this morning and never said a word about it till now."
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"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke,
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he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.
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"What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the door was shut.
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"I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me, either, for
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that matter.
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At our time of life it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new
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acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we would do anything.
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Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance
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with you at the next ball."
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"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the
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tallest."
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The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return Mr.
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Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to dinner.