Pride and Prejudice Notes | Volume 1, Chapter 2

Mr. Bennet had always intended to call on Mr. Bingley, but he enjoys contradicting his wife and disagreeing with her because she is a nitwit. Therefore, he doesn't tell his wife or his daughters that he has met Bingley until the evening after he visited the young man.

While they are involved in their after-dinner pastimes, Mr. Bennet announces that he has met Bingley and his wife and daughters are all very surprised and quite happy, which was his plan. Mrs. Bennet announces her prediction that Lydia, though the youngest, will be the one that Mr. Bingley dances with most at the upcoming ball, and all the Bennet girls are excited to see how things play out at the ball.