Question

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 lines in 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 do anything. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball."

"Oh!" said Lydia stoutly, "I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest."

The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to dinner.

Answer 1

One of the neat things about Pride And Prejudice is that Mr. Bennet mocks Mrs. Bennet all the time and she does not know it -- except sporadically. But Elizabeth always knows what's he's up to and they share a very special bond. The book is well worth the read just to see how those two respond to each other. 

Sorry. I babble a bit.

I would choose the speech beginning "I'm sorry to hear that ... ."
He's not the least sorry and Mrs. Bennet, with her usual obtuseness, changes immediately to great thankness, she praises him for being a good PaPa. She hardly notices what's she saying. She's delightful in her unawareness. That's probably why he stays married to her. He would even in modern times.