Chapter II — Pride and Prejudice

The person who holds the information holds the room. Mr. Bennet has already called on Bingley, among the earliest in the neighborhood, but he told his wife until the last moment that he would not go. She learns the truth only the evening after, when he finds Elizabeth trimming a hat and says, casually, that he hopes Mr. Bingley will like it.

What follows is a long tease. Mrs. Bennet snaps that they cannot know what Bingley likes since they are not to visit; Elizabeth reminds her of the assemblies and Mrs. Long's promised introduction. Mrs. Bennet attacks Mrs. Long as selfish and hypocritical; Mr. Bennet agrees and scolds Kitty for coughing on her nerves. He then spins out a mock-serious lecture on the sacred forms of introduction, asks Mary for a philosophical verdict (Mary wishes to say something sensible but knows not how), and offers to introduce Bingley to Mrs. Long himself since Mrs. Bennet is not acquainted with him.

Mrs. Bennet declares she is sick of Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bennet replies that had he known that this morning he would not have called, but since the visit is paid they cannot escape the acquaintance now. The astonishment of the ladies is exactly what he wanted; Mrs. Bennet, once her joy subsides, insists she always knew she would persuade him. He tells Kitty she may cough as much as she chooses and leaves, fatigued by his wife's raptures. The rest of the evening is spent guessing when Bingley will return the visit and when to ask him to dinner.