Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 13

"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! 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 his five daughters at

once.

After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus

explained:

"About a month 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 tried to explain to her the nature of an entail.

They had often attempted to do it before, but it was a subject

on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason, and she

continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an

estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man

whom nobody cared anything about.

"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet,

"and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting

Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps

be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself."

"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it is very impertinent

of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such