Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 2 Mr. Bennet paid a visit to Mr. Bingley in the morning, but he didnt say anything about it to his wife. He had always intended to visit him, but till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. In the evening Lizzy, his second daughter, was trimming a hat, and he suddenly said: «I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy». «We wont be able to know what Mr. Bingley likes», said her mother angrily, «since we are not to visit». «But you forget, mamma», said Elizabeth, «that well meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him». «Mrs. Long has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I do not believe her», her mother said. Mr. Bennet agreed with her. But Mrs. Bennet was so annoyed that she began scolding one of her daughters. «Stop coughing so, Kitty, for Heavens sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves». «I do not amuse myself by coughing», replied Kitty uneasily. «When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?» «In a fortnight». «But Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before the ball», cried her mother, «so she wont be able to introduce him: she will not know him herself». «Then, my dear», her husband said, «you will introduce your friend to Mr.

honour your circumspection

One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight

“Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,” said her father; “she times them ill.”

for she will not know him herself.

and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner

When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous.

of three-and-twenty years

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

she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.”