
                    PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

                       vol. 1

                     chapter 22


THE Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and
again during the chief of the day, was Miss Lucas so kind as
to listen to Mr. Collins.  Elizabeth took an opportunity of
thanking her.  "It keeps him in good humour," said she, "and
I am more obliged to you than I can express."  Charlotte
assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that
it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time.  This was
very amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than
Elizabeth had any conception of; -- its object was nothing less,
than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins's addresses,
by engaging them towards herself.  Such was Miss Lucas's
scheme; and appearances were so favourable that when they
parted at night, she would have felt almost sure of success if
he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon.  But here,
she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character,
for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next
morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge
to throw himself at her feet.  He was anxious to avoid the notice
of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart,
they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not
willing to have the attempt known till its success could be
known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with
reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was
comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday.
His reception however was of the most flattering kind.  Miss
Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked
towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him acci-
dentally in the lane.  But little had she dared to hope that so
much love and eloquence awaited her there.
In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would
allow, every thing was settled between them to the satis-
faction of both; and as they entered the house, he earnestly
entreated her to name the day that was to make him the
happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waved
for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his
happiness.  The stupidity with which he was favoured by
nature, must guard his courtship from any charm that could
make a woman wish for its continuance; and Miss Lucas,
who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested
desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establish-
ment were gained.
Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for
their consent; and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity.
Mr. Collins's present circumstances made it a most eligible
match for their daughter, to whom they could give little
fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were exceedingly
fair.  Lady Lucas began directly to calculate with more
interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many
years longer Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William
gave it as his decided opinion, that whenever Mr. Collins
should be in possession of the Longbourn estate, it would be
highly expedient that both he and his wife should make their
appearance at St.  James's.  The whole family in short were
properly overjoyed on the occasion.  The younger girls formed
hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might
otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their
apprehension of Charlotte's dying an old maid.  Charlotte her-
self was tolerably composed.  She had gained her point, and
had time to consider of it.  Her reflections were in general
satisfactory.  Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor
agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her
must be imaginary.  But still he would be her husband. --
Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony,
marriage had always been her object; it was the only honour-
able provision for well-educated young women of small
fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be
their pleasantest preservative from want.  This preservative
she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, with-
out having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it.
The least agreeable circumstance in the business, was the
surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friend-
ship she valued beyond that of any other person.  Elizabeth
would wonder, and probably would blame her; and though
her resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings must be hurt
by such disapprobation.  She resolved to give her the informa-
tion herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins when he
returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had
passed before any of the family.  A promise of secrecy was of
course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept without
difficulty; for the curiosity excited by his long absence, burst
forth in such very direct questions on his return, as required
some ingenuity to evade, and he was at the same time exer-
cising great self-denial, for he was longing to publish his
prosperous love.
As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to
see any of the family, the ceremony of leave-taking was per-
formed when the ladies moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet
with great politeness and cordiality said how happy they
should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever his other
engagements might allow him to visit them.
"My dear Madam," he replied, "this invitation is parti-
cularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to
receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself
of it as soon as possible."
They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by
no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said,
"But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapproba-
tion here, my good sir? -- You had better neglect your rela-
tions, than run the risk of offending your patroness."
"My dear sir, " replied Mr. Collins, "I am particularly obliged
to you for this friendly caution, and you may depend upon
my not taking so material a step without her ladyship's con-
currence."
"You cannot be too much on your guard.  Risk any thing
rather than her displeasure; and if you find it likely to be
raised by your coming to us again, which I should think
exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied
that we shall take no offence."
"'Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude-is warmly excited
by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will
speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, as well as
for every other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertford-
shire.  As for my fair cousins, though my absence may not be
long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the liberty
of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my
cousin Elizabeth."
With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them
equally surprised to find that he meditated a quick return.
Mrs. Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of
paying his addresses to one of her younger girls, and Mary
might have been prevailed on to accept him.  She rated his

abilities much higher than any of the others; there was a
solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though
by no means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged
to read and improve himself by such an example as her's, he
might become a very agreeable companion.  But on the follow-
ing morning, every hope of this kind was done away.  Miss
Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a private conference
with Elizabeth related the event of the day before.
The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love
with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the
last day or two; but that Charlotte could encourage him,
seemed almost as far from possibility as that she could encour-
age him herself, and her astonishment was consequently so
great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and she
could not help crying out,
"Engaged to Mr. Collins!  my dear Charlotte, --
impossible!"
The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had com-
manded in telling her story, gave way to a momentary con-
fusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it
was no more than she expected, she soon regained her com-
posure, and calmly replied,
"Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? -- Do you
think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure
any woman's good opinion, because he was not so happy as
to succeed with you?"
But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a
strong effort for it, was able to assure her with tolerable firm-
ness that the prospect of their relationship was highly grateful
to her, and that she wished her all imaginable happiness.
"I see what you are feeling," replied Charlotte, -- "you
must be surprised, very much surprised, -- so lately as Mr.
.. <collins was wishing to marry you.  But when you have
had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied
with what I have done.  I am not romantic you know.  I
never was, I ask only a comfortable home; and consider-
ing Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in
life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him
is as fair, as most people can boast on entering the marriage
state."
Elizabeth quietly answered "Undoubtedly;' -- and after
an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family.
.. <charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then
left to reflect on what she had heard.  It was a long time
before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuit-
able a match.  The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two
offers of marriage within three days, was nothing in com-
parison of his being now accepted.  She had always felt that
.. <charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her
own, but she could not have supposed it possible that when
called into action, she would have sacrificed every better
feeling to worldly advantage.  Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins,
was amost humiliating picture! -- And to the pang of a
friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added
the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that
friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.
ELIZABETH was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflect-
ing on what she had heard, and doubting whether she were
authorised to mention it, when Sir William Lucas himself
appeared, sent by his daughter to announce her engagement
to the family.  With many compliments to them, and much
self-gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the
houses, he unfolded the matter, -- to an audience not merely
wondering, but incredulous; for Mrs. Bennet, with more
perseverance than politeness, protested he must be entirely
mistaken, and Lydia, always unguarded and often uncivil,
boisterously exclaimed,
"Good Lord!  Sir William, how can you tell such a story?
 -- Do not you know that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?"
Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have
borne without anger such treatment; but Sir William's good
breeding carried him through it all; and though he begged
leave to be positive as to the truth of his information, he
listened to all their impertinence with the most forbearing
courtesy.
Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so
unpleasant a situation, now put herself forward to confirm his
account, by mentioning her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte
herself; and endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of
her mother and sisters, by the earnestness of her congratula-
tions to Sir William, in which she was readily joined by Jane,
and by making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might
be expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr.
.. <collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London.
 Mrs. Bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a
great deal while Sir William remained; but no sooner had he
left them than her feelings found a rapid vent.  In the first
place, she persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter;
secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken
in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never be happy
together; and fourthly, that the match might be broken off.
Two inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the
whole; one, that Elizabeth was the real cause of all the mis-
chief; and the other, that she herself had been barbarously
used by them all; and on these two points she principally
dwelt during the rest of the day.  Nothing could console and
nothing appease her. -- Nor did that day wear out her resent-
ment.  A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without
scolding her, a month passed away before she could speak to
Sir William or Lady Lucas without being rude and many
months were gone before she could at all forgive their
daughter.
Mr. Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the
occasion, and such as he did experience he pronounced to be
of a most agreeable sort; for it gratified him, he said, to dis-
cover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think
tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish
than his daughter!
Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match; but
she said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire
for their happiness; nor could Elizabeth persuade her to con-
sider it as improbable.  Kitty and Lydia were ar rom envying
Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; and it
of news to spread
at Meryton.
Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being
able to retort on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daugh-
ter well married; and she called at Longbourn rather oftener
than usual to say how happy she was, though Mrs. Bennet's
sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough
to drive happiness away.
Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint
which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Eliza-
beth felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist
between them again.  Her disappointment in Charlotte made
her turn with fonder regard to her sister, of whose rectitude
and delicacy she was sure her opinion could never be shaken,
and for whose happiness she grew daily morte anxious, as
Bingley had now been gone a week, and nothing was heard of
his return.
Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and
was counting the days till she might reasonably hope to hear
again.  The promised letter of thanks from Mr. Collins arrived
on Tuesday, addressed to their father, and written with all
the solemnity of gratitude which a twelvemonth's abode in
the family might have prompted.  After discharging his con-
science on that head, he proceeded to inform them, with many
rapturous expressions, of his happiness in having obtained
the affection of their amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas, and then
explained that it was merely with the view of enjoying her
society that he had been so ready to close with their kind wish
of seeing him again at Longbourn, whither he hoped to be
able to return on Monday fortnight; for Lady Catherine, he
added, so heartily approved his marriage, that she wished it
to take pla e as soon as possible, which he trusted would be
an unanswerable argument with his amiable Charlotte to
name an early day for making him the happiest of men.
Mr. Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a
matter of pleasure to Mrs. Bennet.  On the contrary she was
as much disposed to complain of it as her husband. -- It was
very strange that he should come to Longbourn instead of to
Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient and exceedingly
troublesome. -- She hated having visitors in the house while
her health was so indifferent, and lovers were of all people the
most disagreeable.  Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs.
Bennet, and they gave way only to the greater distress of
Mr. Bingley's continued absence.
Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable on this subject.
Day after day passed away without bringing any other tidings
of him than the report which shortly prevailed in Meryton of
his coming no more to Netherfield the whole winter; a report
which highly incensed Mrs. Bennet, and which she never
failed to contradict as a most scandalous falsehood.
Even Elizabeth began to fear -- not that Bingley was in-
different -- but that his sisters would be successful in keeping
him away.  Unwilling as she was to admit an idea so destruc-
tive of Jane's happiness, and so dishonourable to the stability
of her lover, she could not prevent its frequently recurring.
The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters and of his over-
powering friend, assisted by the attractions of Miss Darcy and
the amusements of London, might be too much, she feared,
for the strength of his attachment.
As for Jane, her anxiety under this suspence was, of course,
more painful than Elizabeth's; but whatever she felt she was
desirous of concealing, and between herself and Elizabeth,
therefore, the subject was never alluded to.  But as no such
delicacy restrained her mother, an hour seldom passed in
which she did not talk of Bingley, express her impatience for
his arrival, or even require Jane to confess that if he did not
come back, she should think herself very ill used.  It needed all
Jane's steady mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable
tranquillity.
Mr. Collins returned most punctually on the Monday fort-
night, but his reception at Longbourn was not quite so
gracious as it had been on his first introduction.  He was too
happy, however, to need much attention; and luckily for the
others, the business of love-making relieved them from a
great deal of his company, The chief of every day was spent
by him at Lucas Lodge, and he sometimes returned to Long-
bourn only in time to make an apology for his absence before
the family went to bed.
Mrs. Bennet was really in a most pitiable state.  The very
mention of any thing concerning the match threw her into
an agony of ill humour, and wherever she went she was sure
of hearing it talked of.  The sight of Miss Lucas was odious to
her.  As her successor in that house, she regarded her with
jealous abhorrence.  Whenever Charlotte came to see them
she concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession;
and whenever she spoke in a low voice to Mr. Collins, was
convinced that they were talking of the Longbourn estate, and
resolving to turn herself and her daughters out of the house,
as soon as Mr. Bennet were dead.  She complained bitterly of
all this to her husband.
"Indeed, Mr. Bennet," said she, "it is very hard to think that
.. <charlotte Lucas should ever be mistress of this house, that I
should be forced to make way for her, and live to see her take
my place in it!"
"My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts.  Let us
hope for better things.  Let us flatter ourselves that I may be
the survivor."
This was not very consoling to Mrs. Bennet, and, therefore,
instead of making any answer, she went on as before,
"I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate,
If it was not for the entail I should not mind it."
"What should not you mind?"
"I should not mind any thing at all."
"Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of
such insensibility."
"I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for any thing about
the entail.  How any one could have the conscience to entail
away an estate from one's own daughters I cannot under-
stand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins too! -- Why should
he have it more than anybody else?"
"I leave it to yourself to determine," said Mr. Bennet.
