occasion? It seems a hopeless business.”
“Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her marrying him.”
“Call her. She shall hear my opinion.”
Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was called to the library.
“Come here, child,” cried her father as she appeared. “I have sent for you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage. Is it true?” Elizabeth replied that it was. “Very well – and this offer of marriage you have refused?”
“I have, sir.”
“Very well. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is it not so, Mrs. Bennet?”
“Yes, or I will never see her again.”
“An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.”
Mrs. Bennet was excessively disappointed.
“What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, in talking this way? You promised me to insist upon her marrying him.”
“My dear,” replied her husband, “please, allow me to say what I think.”
While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas came in. She was met in the vestibule by Lydia, who cried in a half whisper, “I am glad you are come, for there is such fun here! What do you think has happened this morning? Mr. Collins has made an offer to Lizzy, and she will not marry him.”
Charlotte hardly had time to answer, before they were joined by Kitty, who came to tell the same news.
“Aye, there she comes,” said Mrs. Bennet, “I tell you, Miss Lizzy – if you take it into your head – I do not know who will maintain you when your father is dead. I shall not be able to keep you – and so I warn you. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful children.”
Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty followed her.
Chapter 21
The next morning Mr. Collins was also in the state of angry pride. After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton to inquire if Mr. Wickham were returned. He joined them on their entering the town.
“I found,” said he, “that I had better not meet Mr. Darcy.”
Elizabeth highly approved his forbearance, and they talked a lot. Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little paper. Elizabeth saw her sister’s face change as she read it. Jane said:
“This is from Caroline Bingley. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to town – and without any intention of coming back again.”
Elizabeth saw nothing in it really to lament.
“It is unlucky,” said she, after a short pause, “that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country.”
“Caroline decidedly says that nobody will return into Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you. It is evident that her brother comes back no more this winter.”
“Why do you think so? He is his own master.”
“What do you think of this, my dear Lizzy?” said Jane.
“Is it not clear enough? Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he does not care about you.”
Jane shook her head.
“Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. Miss Bingley, I am sure, is more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother.”
“But if he returns no more this winter… A thousand things may arise in six months!”
Chapter 22
The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth could imagine. Next morning Mr. Collins hastened to Charlotte to throw himself at her feet.
In as short a time as Mr. Collins’s long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered the house he earnestly asked her to name the day that would make him the happiest of men. But Miss Lucas, who accepted him from the pure desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment would happen.
Mr. Collins’s present circumstances made it a most eligible match for her, to whom they could give little fortune. The whole family was overjoyed on the occasion. The boys and the girls were relieved: Charlotte would not die an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. 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. And marriage in general was the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune.
When Elizabeth learned about Charlotte’s marriage, she could not help crying out:
“Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte – impossible!”
“Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? 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 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 considering Mr. Collins’s character, connection, 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. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a most humiliating picture!
Chapter 23
Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflecting on what she had heard, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared, sent by his daughter, to announce her engagement to the family.
Elizabeth mentioned 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 congratulations to Sir William.
Mr. Bennet’s emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion. He discovered that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish than his daughter!
Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again. Her disappointment in Charlotte made her turn to her sister. Bingley had now been gone a week and nothing more was heard of his return.
Jane
