that Mr. Bennet gets tired of being told what to do by Mrs. Bennet! He likely already knows he must visit such a person as this new neighbor and would do so. It's likely Mrs. Bennet does not limit her anxiety attacks to reasonable concerns (such as the necessity of getting daughters married.) I suspect she treats everyday events the same way! Mr. Bennet has lived with her outbursts for many years at this stage and doubtless has used many different strategies to cope with them! Having had naggy, anxious persons in my life from time to time, I very well know the feeling of just wanting to ignore or defy them, even temporarily! Even when they are right! It gets SO old. (Generally the Mrs. Bennets of the world are not the type you can sit down with and have a quiet discussion about their shrill 'panics'.) There are many other ways he might handle her tumultuous, pushy behaviors...it's just as well he doesn't choose those!