Chapter 13

           Ihope,mydear,"saidMr.Bennettohiswife,astheywereatbreakfastthenextmorning,"thatyouhaveorderedagooddinnerto-day,becauseIhavereasontoexpectanadditiontoourfamilyparty." 

           "Whodoyoumean,mydear? Iknowofnobodythatiscoming,Iamsure,unlessCharlotteLucasshouldhappentocallin—andIhopemydinnersaregoodenoughforher. Idonotbelievesheoftenseessuchathome." 

           "ThepersonofwhomIspeakisagentleman,andastranger." 

           Mrs.Bennet’seyessparkled. "Agentlemanandastranger!ItisMr.Bingley,Iamsure! Well,IamsureIshallbeextremelygladtoseeMr.Bingley. But—goodLord!howunlucky!Thereisnotabitoffishtobegotto-day. Lydia,mylove,ringthebell—ImustspeaktoHillthismoment." 

           "ItisnotMr.Bingley,"saidherhusband;"itisapersonwhomIneversawinthewholecourseofmylife." 

           Thisrousedageneralastonishment;andhehadthepleasureofbeingeagerlyquestionedbyhiswifeandhisfivedaughtersatonce. 

           Afteramusinghimselfsometimewiththeircuriosity,hethusexplained: 

           "AboutamonthagoIreceivedthisletter;andaboutafortnightagoIansweredit,forIthoughtitacaseofsomedelicacy,andrequiringearlyattention. Itisfrommycousin,Mr.Collins,who,whenIamdead,mayturnyoualloutofthishouseassoonashepleases." 

           "Oh!mydear,"criedhiswife,"Icannotbeartohearthatmentioned. Praydonottalkofthatodiousman.