It is
           a truth universally acknowledged,
         that a single man
               in possession
                   of a large 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 someone
                  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.