Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (an excerpt)
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
(...)
”Do not you want to know who has taken it?’’ cried his wife impatiently. “You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.’’
“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England (...)
“What is his name?’’
“Bingley.’’
“Is he married or single?’’
“Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!’’
“How so? how can it affect them?’’
“My dear Mr. Bennet,’’ replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.’’
“Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves.’’
“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.’’
“Ah! you do not know what I suffer.’’
“But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.’’
“It will be no use to us if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them.’’
“Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty I will visit them all.’’
Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.
From: AUSTEN, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. https://www.janeausten.org/pride-and-prejudice/chapter-1.asp
The meaning of the word “odd” is: