Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 20 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 20

JANE AUSTEN

“If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled

at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and

all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing

to wish for.”

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet’s

visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library.

He had entertained hopes of being admitted to a sight

of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had heard

much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were

somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage

of ascertaining from an upper window that he wore a

blue coat, and rode a black horse.

An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards

dispatched; and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the

courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping,

when an answer arrived which deferred it all.

Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day,

and, consequently, unable to accept the honour of their

invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted. She

could not imagine what business he could have in town

so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began

to fear that he might be always flying about from one

place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he

ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by

12