凡是有钱的单身汉，总想娶位太太，这已经成了一条举世公认的真理。
这样的单身汉，不论他家里的感受或见解如何，一搬到一个地方，左邻右舍虽然完全不了解他的心事，却总把他看作自己某一个女儿应得的一份财产。
有一天，班纳特太太对丈夫说：“我的好老爷，尼日斐花园终于租出去了，你听说过没有？”
班纳特先生回答道，他没有听说过。
“的确租出去了，”她说，“朗格太太刚刚上这儿来过，她把这件事的底细，一五一十地告诉了我。”
班纳特先生没有理睬她。
“你难道不想知道，是谁租去的吗？”太太不耐烦地嚷起来了。
“既是你要说给我听，我听听也无妨。”
[插图：
“他赶来看房子”
[1894年乔治·艾伦公司版权所有。]]
这句话足够鼓励她讲下去了。
“哦，我的好老爷，你可得知道，朗格太太说，租尼日斐花园的是个阔少爷，他是英格兰北部的人；他星期一那天，乘着一辆驷马大轿车来看房子，看得非常中意，当场就跟莫里斯先生谈妥了；他要在米迦勒节以前搬进来，下周末以前，打发佣人先来住。”
“这个人叫什么名字？”
“彬格莱。”
“成亲了没有？”
“没有，我的好老爷，还单着呢。一个有钱的单身汉；每年有四五千镑的收入。真是女儿们的福气！”
“这怎么说？关女儿们什么事？”
“我的好老爷，”太太答道，“你怎么这样叫人讨厌！告诉你吧，我正在盘算，他要是娶了我们一个女儿该多好！”
“他搬到这里来，就是为了这个打算吗？”
“打算！胡扯，你怎么能这么说话！不过，他兴许会看中我们的某一个女儿，因此，他一搬来，你就得去拜访他。”
“我看没有那个必要。你带着女儿们去就行——或者你干脆打发她们自己去，那也许更好些，因为你跟她们任何一个一样漂亮，彬格莱先生说不定会挑中你呢。”
“我的好老爷，你太捧我了。从前我也算得上漂亮，现在可不敢妄想了。一个女人有了五个成年的女儿，就不该再想着自己的美貌了。”
“在这种时候，女人往往也谈不上什么美貌了。”
“不过，我的好老爷，彬格莱先生一搬来，你无论如何得去见见他。”
“老实跟你说，这可超出了我的承诺范围。”
“可是你得为女儿们着想呀。你想想，给他家做个亲戚，对她们该是多好的事。威廉爵士和卢卡斯太太打定主意要去，还不就是为了这个；你知道，他们平时可不拜访新搬来的人。你真得去，要是你不去，我们母女就没法去见他了。”
“你太顾虑了。我敢说彬格莱先生见见你很高兴；我写封短信托你带去，向他诚恳表示，随他挑中哪个女儿，我都乐意应允——不过我得替我的小莉齐说句好话。”
“我求你别这么办。莉齐并不比其余的女儿强；我敢说，她长得不及简一半漂亮，脾气也不及丽迪雅一半好。可你总是偏着她。”
“她们没一个值得夸的，”他答道，“都跟别的姑娘一样，又傻又无知；不过莉齐比她姐妹们机灵些。”
“班纳特先生，你怎么能这么糟蹋自己的孩子？你存心气我。我可怜的神经，你一点也不同情。”
“你错怪我了，我的好太太。我非常尊重你的神经。它们可是我的老朋友了。至少这二十年来，我常听你郑重其事地提到它们。”
“唉，你哪知道我受的罪。”
“不过我希望你挺过去，活到看见许多每年四千镑收入的年轻人搬进这邻里。”
“就算来上二十个，又有什么用，反正你不去拜访。”
“放心吧，我的好太太，等到有了二十个，我个个都去拜访。”
班纳特先生真是又机敏又讽刺，既含蓄又任性，二十三年下来，太太还没摸透他的脾气。太太的心思可容易看透。她是个智力贫乏、孤陋寡闻、喜怒无常的女人。一不称心，就自以为神经紧张。她一生的正经事，是把女儿们嫁出去；安慰，是串门和听新闻。
[插图：班纳特先生与太太
[1894年乔治·艾伦公司版权所有。]]
[插图：
“但愿彬格莱先生会喜欢”
[1894年乔治·艾伦公司版权所有。]]
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 as 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 not you want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife, impatiently.
“_You_ want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”
[Illustration:
“He came down to see the place”
[_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]]
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 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 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 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 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 on 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 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 develope. 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.
[Illustration: M^{r.} & M^{rs.} Bennet
[_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]]
[Illustration:
“I hope Mr. Bingley will like it”
[_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]]
