Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- General Editor’s Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology
- Introduction
- Note on the Text
- Pride and Prejudice
- Pride and Prejudice: Volume I
- Pride and Prejudice: Volume II
- Pride and Prejudice: Volume III
- Corrections and Emendations to 1813 text
- Appendix 1 Thomas Egerton and the Publication History
- Appendix 2 Legal and Military Background
- Appendix 3 Pemberley and its Models
- Appendix 4 Note on the second and third editions of Pride and Prejudice
- Abbreviations
- Explanatory Notes
Chapter 13
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 December 2020
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- General Editor’s Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology
- Introduction
- Note on the Text
- Pride and Prejudice
- Pride and Prejudice: Volume I
- Pride and Prejudice: Volume II
- Pride and Prejudice: Volume III
- Corrections and Emendations to 1813 text
- Appendix 1 Thomas Egerton and the Publication History
- Appendix 2 Legal and Military Background
- Appendix 3 Pemberley and its Models
- Appendix 4 Note on the second and third editions of Pride and Prejudice
- Abbreviations
- Explanatory Notes
Summary
“I HOPE, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at breakfast the next morning, “that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.”
“Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home.”
“The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger.” Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled.—”A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Bingley I am sure. Why Jane—you never dropt a word of this; you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley.—But—good lord! how unlucky! there is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill, this moment.”
“It is not Mr. Bingley,” said her husband; “it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life.”
This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.
After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained. “About amonth ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.”
“Oh! my dear,” cried his wife, “I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it.”
Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason;
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- Pride and Prejudice , pp. 68 - 73Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006