itisatruthuniversallyacknowledged,thatasinglemaninpossessionofagoodfortunemustbeinwantofawife.

howeverlittleknownthefeelingsorviewsofsuchamanmaybeonhisfirstenteringaneighbourhood,thistruthissowellfixedinthemindsofthesurroundingfamilies,thatheisconsideredastherightfulpropertyofsomeoneorotheroftheirdaughters.

"mydearmr.bennet,"saidhisladytohimoneday,"haveyouheardthatnetherfieldparkisletatlast?"

mr.bennetrepliedthathehadnot.

"butitis,"returnedshe;"formrs.longhasjustbeenhere,andshetoldmeallaboutit."

mr.bennetmadenoanswer.

"donotyouwanttoknowwhohastakenit?"criedhiswifeimpatiently.

"youwanttotellme,andihavenoobjectiontohearingit."

thiswasinvitationenough.

"why,mydear,youmustknow,mrs.longsaysthatnetherfieldistakenbyayoungmanoflargefortunefromthenorthofengland;thathecamedownonmondayinachaiseandfourtoseetheplace,andwassomuchdelightedwithitthatheagreedwithmr.morrisimmediately;thatheistotakepossessionbeforemichaelmas,andsomeofhisservantsaretobeinthehousebytheendofnextweek."

"whatishisname?"

"bingley."

"ishemarriedorsingle?"

"oh!single,mydear,tobesure!asinglemanoflargefortune;fourorfivethousandayear.whatafinethingforourgirls!"

"howso?howcanitaffectthem?"

"mydearmr.bennet,"repliedhiswife,"howcanyoubesotiresome!youmustknowthatiamthinkingofhismarryingoneofthem."

"isthathisdesigninsettlinghere?"