Jane Austin - Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austin

Pride and Prejudice

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Titel Jane Austin Pride and Prejudice Dieses ebook wurde erstellt bei

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 12

Impressum neobooks

Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in

possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be

on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well

fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is

considered the rightful property of some one or other of their

daughters.

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you

heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and

she told me all about it.”

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

“Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife

impatiently.

“_You_ want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”

This was invitation enough.

“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is

taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England;

that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the

place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr.

Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before

Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by

the end of next week.”

“What is his name?”

“Bingley.”

“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 may 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 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. She was a

woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain

temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous.

The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its

solace was visiting and news.

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr.

Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last

always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the

evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It

was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second

daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her

with:

“I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.”

“We are not in a way to know _what_ Mr. Bingley likes,” said her

mother resentfully, “since we are not to visit.”

“But you forget, mamma,” said Elizabeth, “that we shall meet him

at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him.”

“I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two

nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I

have no opinion of her.”

“No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; “and I am glad to find that

you do not depend on her serving you.”

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply, but, unable to contain

herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

“Don’t keep coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven’s sake! Have a little

compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.”