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The concern with getting daughters married into good families pervades Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and forms a large part of the social mannerisms that the novel mocks. In which section of this excerpt does one of the Bennet parents make an ironically false claim about having gone to great lengths to achieve that goal? "What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?" cried he. "Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great books and make extracts. " Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how. "While Mary is adjusting her ideas," he continued, "let us return to Mr. Bingley. " "I am sick of Mr. Bingley," cried his wife. "I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before? If I had known as much this morning I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now. " The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though, when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while. "How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now. " "Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose," said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife. "What an excellent father you have, girls!" said she, when the door was shut. "I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me, either, for that matter. At our time of life it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we would.

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Final answer:

In Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet ironically denies knowing about his wife's dislike of Mr. Bingley, even though he was aware of it.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, one of the Bennet parents makes an ironically false claim about having gone to great lengths to get their daughters married into good families in the section where Mr. Bennet reacts to his wife's statement about being sick of Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bennet acts as if he had no prior knowledge of Mrs. Bennet's dislike for Mr. Bingley and feigns surprise, which is ironic because he knew all along.