第5页 / 共817页

"But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men

of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood."

"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you

will not visit them."

"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will

visit them all."

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour,

reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty

years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his

character. Her mind was less difficult to develope. She was a

woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain

temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous.

The business of her life was to get her daughters married: its

solace was visiting and news.

]

]

CHAPTER II.