Chapter 2. Mr. Bennet's concealed visit

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid, she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,

Longbourn stands quietly at autumn dusk, its three drawing-room windows glowing across the gravel.

Mr. Bennet sits beside the evening fire, keeping his visit to Mr. Bingley to himself.

"I hope Mr. Bingley will like it Lizzy."

Elizabeth pauses mid-stitch as Mr. Bennet's sly remark reaches her.

"We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes," said her mother resentfully, "since we are not to visit."

Mrs. Bennet retorts resentfully across the hearth, stiff beside relaxed Mr. Bennet

"But you forget, mama," said Elizabeth, "that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him."

Elizabeth pauses her bonnet trimming to answer her mother with calm, good-humoured reason.

"I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her."

"No more have I," said Mr. Bennet; "and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you."

Mr. Bennet mildly agrees with his wife's verdict on Mrs. Long.

Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

"Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces."

Mrs. Bennet twists round to scold Kitty for coughing.

"Kitty has no discretion in her coughs," said her father; "she times them ill."

"I do not cough for my own amusement," replied Kitty fretfully.

Kitty shrinks into her chair by the dark window, clutching a handkerchief as she frets

"When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?"

Mr. Bennet asks Elizabeth when the next ball will be, quietly opening a new line of conversation.

"To-morrow fortnight."

"Aye, so it is," cried her mother, "and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so, it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself."

Mrs. Bennet counts days on her fingers, ruling out Mrs. Long's introduction

"Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her."

Mr. Bennet offers his teasing suggestion with a perfectly composed face.

"Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teazing?"

Mrs. Bennet twists her lace-edged handkerchief as her protest rises.

"I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture, somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself."

Mr. Bennet leans forward with open palms, gravely offering the introduction himself.

The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, "Nonsense, nonsense!"

Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia freeze and stare at Mr. Bennet.

"What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried he. "Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? for you are a young lady of deep reflection I know, and read great books, and make extracts."

Mary straightens eagerly as Mr. Bennet invites her opinion.

Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.

Mary Bennet holds her lips parted, searching for a sensible answer as her father continues speaking.

"While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr. Bingley."

"I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife.

Mrs. Bennet presses her temple in exasperation, unaware her husband has visited Bingley

"I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me so before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now."

Mr. Bennet reveals that he has already paid the visit.

Mr. Bennet casually reveals that he has already visited Mr. Bingley.

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while.

Mrs. Bennet surges toward her husband in delighted astonishment at his concealed visit.

"How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning, and never said a word about it till now."

Mrs. Bennet leans over her husband's chair, triumphantly claiming credit for his concealed visit.

"Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you chuse," said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.

"What an excellent father you have, girls," said she, when the door was shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me either, for that matter. At our time of life, it is not so pleasant I can tell you, to be making new acquaintance every day; but for your sakes, we would do any thing. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."

Mrs. Bennet spreads her arms to her daughters, claiming a share of Mr. Bennet's kindness

Mrs. Bennet bends over the sofa to pat Lydia's cheek, promising her a dance with Mr. Bingley.

"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest."

Lydia Bennet springs up and proudly claims her full height in the candlelit drawing-room

The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to dinner.

Mrs. Bennet, Lydia and Kitty eagerly count the days until Mr. Bingley might return the visit.

Elizabeth’s finished bonnet waits on the work-table after the evening’s excitement.