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, "I hope your journey to Newcastle will be a pleasant one."
Mary was silent. Her sister, Kitty, who was then in the habit of being at the same place, and who was not so guarded in her expressions, instantly replied, "I have not been to Newcastle for these two years."
"Oh! you mean you have not been there since the ball," said Mr. Bennet; "then, I suppose, you have not been to the play either?"
"No," cried Kitty, "nor to the concert. I have been to neither."
"Well, then," said her father, "I hope you will not be too much disappointed when you hear that I have been to visit Mr. Bingley."
Kitty, however, was so used to her father's teasing that she was not surprised. Mary, on the other hand, was greatly agitated. "What! have you seen him?" she exclaimed. "Then I suppose you have made him acquaintance."
"Yes," said Mr. Bennet, with a knowing smile, "I have had the pleasure of making his acquaintance."
Mrs. Bennet was very glad to hear this, and immediately began to question him about Mr. Bingley's fortune, his relations, and his connections. Mr. Bennet, however, contented himself with answering her questions with a sort of sarcastic politeness, which still further amused him.
"He is a gentleman of very good fortune," he said, "and lives in a very fine house in Hertfordshire. He is a single man, and of good fortune, and has been in the army."
"A gentleman of fortune, indeed!" cried Mrs. Bennet. "What a fine thing for our girls! But what is his fortune?"
"He is a man of fortune, my dear," said Mr. Bennet; "and he has a great deal of money."
"And what sort of house is it?" said Kitty.
"It is a very handsome house," said Mr. Bennet, "and it is a very fine estate."