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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 imme-

diately; 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 tire-

some! 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