Mr. Bennet, contrary to his feigned indifference, was among the first to call on Mr. Bingley, a visit he kept secret from his family until the evening after it occurred. He revealed the news subtly, remarking to Elizabeth about her hat and expressing hope Mr. Bingley would like it. Mrs. Bennet, unaware of her husband's actions, responded bitterly, lamenting their lack of connection with Mr. Bingley and dismissing the possibility of an introduction by Mrs. Long, whom she characterised as selfish and manipulative, with her own nieces to consider.
Mr. Bennet continued to tease, suggesting they wouldn't need Mrs. Long's services. When Mrs. Bennet remained silent, he shifted to admonishing Kitty for coughing, to his wife's further irritation. Elizabeth reminded her mother that Mrs. Long had promised an introduction, but Mrs. Bennet dismissed this, pointing out Mrs. Long would be absent until the day before the next ball, leaving no time for introductions. Mr. Bennet then playfully suggested Mrs. Bennet would have the advantage of introducing Mr. Bingley to Mrs. Long, further frustrating his wife, who found his teasing tiresome. He admired her 'reserve' regarding their recent acquaintance, implying that if they didn't act, others would, and even offered to handle the introductions himself. The daughters exchanged surprised glances, while Mrs. Bennet merely called it "nonsense."
Mr. Bennet pressed on, questioning his wife's exclamation and inviting Mary, known for her reflectiveness, to comment, though she had nothing profound to offer. He then circled back to Mr. Bingley, prompting Mrs. Bennet to declare she wished to hear no more of him. It was at this point Mr. Bennet finally disclosed his visit, expressing mock regret that if he had known her aversion earlier, he wouldn't have gone, but now that the call was made, acquaintance was unavoidable.
The revelation stunned the ladies, particularly Mrs. Bennet. After the initial shock subsided, she swiftly transitioned from disbelief to ecstatic joy, claiming she knew she would persuade him. She praised Mr. Bennet as a wonderful husband and father, commending his dedication to his children and finding his secret visit a delightful joke. Mr. Bennet, weary of her transports, retreated, jokingly telling Kitty she could now cough as much as she pleased.
Once he was gone, Mrs. Bennet continued to express her delight to her daughters, highlighting their father's sacrifice in seeking new acquaintances for their sakes. She immediately began speculating about Mr. Bingley dancing with Lydia at the upcoming ball, despite Lydia being the youngest. Lydia confidently asserted her intention to dance with him, noting she was the tallest. The rest of the evening was spent in excited conjecture about when Mr. Bingley would return Mr. Bennet's call and when they could invite him to dinner.