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THE next day opened a new scene at Longbourn. Mr. Collins made his

declaration in form. Having resolved to do it without loss of time,

as his leave of absence extended only to the following Saturday, and

having no feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even

at the moment, he set about it in a very orderly manner, with all the

observances which he supposed a regular part of the business. On finding

Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and one of the younger girls together soon after

breakfast, he addressed the mother in these words,

"May I hope, Madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth,

when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the

course of this morning?" .

Before Elizabeth had time for any thing but a blush of surprise, Mrs.

Bennet instantly answered, .

"Oh dear! -- Yes -- certainly. -- I am sure Lizzy will be very happy

-- I am sure she can have no objection. -- Come, Kitty, I want you up

stairs." And gathering her work together, she was hastening away, when

Elizabeth called out, .

"Dear Ma'am, do not go. -- I beg you will not go. -- Mr. Collins

must excuse me. -- He can have nothing to say to me that any body need

not hear. I am going away myself." .

"No, no, nonsense, Lizzy. -- I desire you will stay where you are."

-- And upon Elizabeth's seeming really, with vexed and embarrassed looks,

about to escape, she added, "Lizzy, I insist upon your staying and

hearing Mr. Collins." .

Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction -- and a moment's consideration

making her also sensible that it would be wisest to get it over as soon

and as quietly as possible, she sat down again, and tried to conceal

by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between distress

and diversion. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty walked off, and as soon as they

were gone Mr. Collins began. .

"Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, so far from

doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections. You

would have been less amiable in my eyes had there not been this little

unwillingness; but allow me to assure you that I have your respected

mother's permission for this address. You can hardly doubt the purport

of my discourse, however your natural delicacy may lead you to dissemble;

my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as

I entered the house I singled you out as the companion of my future

life. But before I am run away with by my feelings on this subject,

perhaps it will be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying

-- and moreover for coming into Hertfordshire with the design of selecting

a wife, as I certainly did." .

The idea of Mr. Collins, with all his solemn composure, being run

away with by his feelings, made Elizabeth so near laughing that she

could not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him

farther, and he continued: .

"My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a left thing

for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the example

of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am convinced it will add

very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly -- which perhaps I ought to

have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice and recommendation

of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness.

Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion (unasked too!) on

this subject; and it was but the very Saturday night before I left Hunsford

-- between our pools at quadrille, while Mrs. Jenkinson was arranging

Miss de Bourgh's foot-stool, that she said, "Mr. Collins, you must

marry. A clergyman like you must marry. -- Chuse properly, chuse a gentlewoman

for my sake; and for your own, let her be an active, useful sort of

person, not brought up high, but able to make a small income go a good

way. This is my advice. Find such a woman as soon as you can, bring

her to Hunsford, and I will visit her." Allow me, by the way, to

observe, my fair cousin, that I do not reckon the notice and kindness

of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as among the least of the advantages in

my power to offer. You will find her manners beyond any thing I can

describe; and your wit and vivacity I think must be acceptable to her,

especially when tempered with the silence and respect which her rank

will inevitably excite. Thus much for my general intention in favour

of matrimony; it remains to be told why my views were directed to Longbourn

instead of my own neighbourhood, where I assure you there are many amiable

young women. But the fact is, that being, as I am, to inherit this estate

after the death of your honoured father (who, however, may live many

years longer), I could not satisfy myself without resolving to chuse

a wife from among his daughters, that the loss to them might be as little

as possible, when the melancholy event takes place -- which, however,

as I have already said, may not be for several years. This has been

my motive, my fair cousin, and I flatter myself it will not sink me

in your esteem. And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in

the most animated language of the violence of my affection. To fortune

I am perfectly indifferent, and shall make no demand of that nature

on your father, since I am well aware that it could not be complied

with; and that one thousand pounds in the 4 per cents, which will not

be yours till after your mother's decease, is all that you may ever

be entitled to. On that head, therefore, I shall be uniformly silent;

and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass

my lips when we are married." .

It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now. .

"You are too hasty, Sir," she cried. "You forget that I have made

no answer. Let me do it without farther loss of time. Accept my thanks

for the compliment you are paying me, I am very sensible of the honour

of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than

decline them." .

"I am not now to learn," replied Mr. Collins, with a formal wave

of the hand, "that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses

of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies

for their favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second

or even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what

you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long."

.

"Upon my word, Sir," cried Elizabeth, "your hope is rather an extraordinary

one after my declaration. I do assure you that I am not one of those

young ladies (if such young ladies there are) who are so daring as to

risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second time. I am

perfectly serious in my refusal. -- You could not make me happy, and

I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make

you so, -- Nay, were your friend Lady Catherine to know me, I am persuaded

she would find me in every respect ill qualified for the situation."

.

"Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so," said Mr. Collins

very gravely -- "but I cannot imagine that her ladyship would at all

disapprove of you. And you may be certain that when I have the honour

of seeing her again I shall speak in the highest terms of your modesty,

economy, and other amiable qualifications." .

"Indeed, Mr. Collins, all praise of me will be unnecessary. You must

give me leave to judge for myself, and pay me the compliment of believing

what I say. I wish you very happy and very rich, and by refusing your

hand, do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise. In making

me the offer, you must have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings

with regard to my family, and may take possession of Longbourn estate

whenever it falls, without any self-reproach. This matter may be considered,

therefore, as finally settled." And rising as she thus spoke, she would

have quitted the room, had not Mr. Collins thus addressed her, .

"When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this subject

I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given

me; though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present, because

I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on

the first application, and perhaps you have even now said as much to

encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the

female character." .

"Really, Mr. Collins," cried Elizabeth with some warmth, "you puzzle

me exceedingly. If what I have hitherto said can appear to you in the

form of encouragement, I know not how to express my refusal in such

a way as may convince you of its being one." .

"You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your

refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasons for believing

it are briefly these: -- It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy

your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any

other than highly desirable. My situation in life, my connections with

the family of De Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances

highly in its favor; and you should take it into farther consideration

that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain

that another offer of marriage may ever be made you. Your portion is

unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of

your loveliness and amiable qualifications. As I must therefore conclude

that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall chuse to attribute

it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the

usual practice of elegant females." .

"I do assure you, Sir, that I have no pretension whatever to that

kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man. I would

rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you

again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but

to accept them is absolutely impossible. My feelings in every respect

forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant

female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking

the truth from her heart." .

"You are uniformly charming!" cried he, with an air of awkward gallantry;

"and I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express authority of

both your excellent parents, my proposals will not fail of being acceptable."

.

To such perseverance in wilful self-deception, Elizabeth would make

no reply, and immediately and in silence withdrew; determined, that

if he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering encouragement,

to apply to her father, whose negative might be uttered in such a manner

as must be decisive, and whose behaviour at least could not be mistaken

for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female. .

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