Everyone knows that a rich, unmarried man needs a pretty wife. And every mother wants her daughters to be happily married.
Mr and Mrs Bennet of Longbourn House, in the village of Longbourn, had live unmarried daughters. So when Mrs Bennet heard that a young man was coming to live in the neighbourhood, she was delighted’. She found out all she could about him, and hurried to tell her husband the good news.
‘Oh, Mr Bennet, Netherfield Hall is let at last!’ Mrs Bennet cried excitedly. ‘Don’t you want to know who is going to live there?’
‘No,’ Mr Bennet answered, ‘but I am sure you want to tell me.’
‘The house is let to a young man from the north of England. His name is Bingley, he’s very rich and not married. What a chance this is for our dear Jane! Everyone knows she’s the most beautiful girl in Hertfordshire. She’s so good-natured too. She will be an excellent wife for Mr Bingley.
‘I shall be very happy to have her living so near US. And in a fine house like Netherfield too! Mr Bingley plans to live there with his sister. She and Jane —’
‘Please stop a moment, Mrs Bennet,’ her husband said quietly. ‘Why are you telling me all this? Mr Bingley is a stranger. But you are saying that he has come here to marry one of our daughters!’
‘I did not say that,’ Mrs Bennet answered. ‘But we must think of our daughters’ future. You must call on Mr Bingley at once, Mr Bennet.’
‘I don’t think so, my dear,’ Mr Bennet said calmly. ‘But I’ll write to this young man and give him my permission to marry Jane - or whoever he chooses. Perhaps he’d like to marry my little Lizzy.’
‘Don’t tease me, please, Mr Bennet,’ Mrs Bennet replied. ‘I know Lizzy is your favourite daughter, but she is not as beautiful as Jane, nor as lively as Lydia.’
‘Our girls are silly and thoughtless,’ Mr Bennet said severely. ‘But Lizzy is a little more sensible than the others.’
Mr and Mrs Bennet were not happily married. After twenty-three years, Mr Bennet was tired of his wife’s chatter and love of gossip. And Mrs Bennet had never understood her husband’s sense of humour.
A few days later, Mr Bennet called on Mr Bingley, without telling Mrs Bennet. She was delighted when she found out that Mr Bennet had called at Netherfield Hall.
‘Girls, you have such a good father!’ Mrs Bennet cried. ‘You will thank him for calling at Netherfield, Jane, when you are married to Mr Bingley.
‘You must look very beautiful at the next assembly ball, my dear,’ Mrs Bennet went on, ‘I’m sure that Mr Bingley will be there.’
On the following Friday, the assembly rooms in the town of Meryton were crowded. Everyone stared as Mr Bingley came in with two ladies and two gentlemen.
The fashionably dressed young woman with Mr Bingley was his unmarried sister, Miss Caroline Bingley. Mr Bingley’s married sister, Louisa Hurst, was also there, with her husband. The other gentleman was Mr Bingley’s friend, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Mr Bingley was a good-looking young, man with a pleasant smile. Mr Darcy was tall, very handsome and from a noble family. People said he had twice as much money as Mr Bingley and a large estate in Derbyshire. He was also unmarried.
At first, everyone admired Mr Darcy. But he danced only with Bingley’s sisters and spoke to no one else. Mrs Bennet and her friends soon agreed that, although Mr Darcy was a fine gentleman, he was much too proud.
However, Mr Bingley pleased everyone. And Mrs Bennet was delighted when he danced with Jane.
Elizabeth Bennet watched Jane and Mr Bingley. Her dark eyes were shining with pleasure.
‘Darcy, why aren’t you dancing?’ Bingley called to his friend. ‘There are plenty of pretty girls here tonight.’
‘You are dancing with the only beautiful woman in the room,’ Mr Darcy replied.
‘But one of Miss Jane Bennet’s pretty sisters is without a dancing partner,’ Bingley answered. ‘I will ask Jane to introduce you to her.’
Darcy looked at Elizabeth, who was standing near him. They looked at each other for a moment and then Darcy turned away.
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