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MR. COLLINS was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had

been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part

of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and

miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he

had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful

acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up

had given him originally great humility of manner, but it was now a

good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in

retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity.

A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when

the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for

her high rank and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling

with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman,

and his rights as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and

obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.

Having now a good house and very sufficient income, he intended to marry;

and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife

in view, as he meant to chuse one of the daughters, if he found them

as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This

was his plan of amends -- of atonement -- for inheriting their father's

estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and

suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own

part. .

His plan did not vary on seeing them. -- Miss Bennet's lovely face

confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what

was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled

choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter

of an hour's te^te-a`-te^te with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation

beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal

of his hopes that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced

from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a

caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. -- "As to her younger

daughters she could not take upon her to say -- she could not positively

answer -- but she did not know of any prepossession; -- her eldest daughter,

she must just mention -- she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely

to be very soon engaged." .

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth -- and it was

soon done -- done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth,

equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course. .

Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon

have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak

of the day before was now high in her good graces. .

Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister

except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them,

at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him,

and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed

him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged

with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking

to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford.

Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had

been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as

he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room

in the house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility,

therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters

in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for

a walker than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close his large

book, and go. .

In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his

cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention

of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes

were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers,

and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin

in a shop window, could recall them. .

But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom

they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking

with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very

Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire,

and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air,

all wondered who he could be, and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible

to find out, led the way across the street, under pretence of wanting

something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement

when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr.

Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce

his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from

town, and he was happy to say, had accepted a commission in their corps.

This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals

to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour;

he had all the best part of beauty -- a fine countenance, a good figure,

and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side

by a happy readiness of conversation -- a readiness at the same time

perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing

and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their

notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing

the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them,

and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman,

and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way

to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated

it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on

Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger,

and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked

at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both

changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after

a few moments, touched his hat -- a salutation which Mr. Darcy just

deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? -- It was impossible

to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know. .

In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed

what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend. .

Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door

of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's

pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs.

Philips' throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the invitation.

.

Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces, and the two eldest,

from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly

expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their

own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about,

if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop boy in the street, who

had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield

because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed

towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him

with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more,

apologising for his intrusion without any previous acquaintance with

her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified

by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice.

Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but

her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to by exclamations

and inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she could only tell

her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from

London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the ----shire.

She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and

down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would

certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed

the windows now except a few of the officers, who in comparison with

the stranger, were become "stupid, disagreeable fellows." Some of

them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised

to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation

also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was

agreed to, and Mrs. Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable

noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards.

The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in

mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting

the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly

needless. .

As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass

between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either

or both, had they appeared to be wrong, she could no more explain such

behaviour than her sister. .

Mr. Collins, on his return, highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring

Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He protested that except Lady

Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman;

for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but had

even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening,

although utterly unknown to her before. Something he supposed might

be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met

with so much attention in the whole course of his life. .

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