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1"That is all very proper and civil, I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet, "and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a
2pity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?" "The garden in which stands my
3humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her Ladyship's residence." "I think you said she was a
4widow, sir? has she any family?" "She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property."
5"Ah," cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she is better off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she?
6Is she handsome?" "She is a most charming young lady, indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that, in point of true beauty,
7Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex; because there is that in her features which marks the young
8woman of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her making that
9progress in many accomplishments which she could not otherwise have failed of, as I am informed by the lady who
10superintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to
11drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies." "Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among
12the ladies at court." "Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I
13told Lady Catherine myself one day, has deprived the British Court of its brightest ornament. Her Ladyship seemed
14pleased with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments
15which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughter
16seemed born to be a duchess; and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by
17her. These are the kind of little things which please her Ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive
18myself peculiarly bound to pay." "You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet; "and it is happy for you that you possess
19the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the
20moment, or are the result of previous study?" "They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time; and though I
21sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary
22occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible." Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered.
23His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped; and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same
24time the most resolute composure of countenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner
25in his pleasure. By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the
26drawing-room again, and when tea was over, glad to invite him [Illustration: "Protested that he never read novels" H.T
27Feb 94 ] to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced; but on beholding it (for
28everything announced it to be from a circulating library) he started back, and, begging pardon, protested that he never
29read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose
30"Fordyce's Sermons." Lydia gaped as he opened the volume; and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three
31pages, she interrupted him with,-- "Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Philips talks of turning away Richard? and if he
32does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear
33more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town." Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her
34tongue; but Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said,-- "I have often observed how little young ladies
35are interested by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; for
36certainly there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin."
37Then, turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge,
38observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters
39apologized most civilly for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his
40book; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent her
41behaviour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon. [Illustration]
42CHAPTER XV. [Illustration] Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted
43by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly
44father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms without forming at it
45any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility
46of manner; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the
47consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de
48Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for
49her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a
50rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility. Having now a good house
51and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a
52wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were
53represented by common report. This was his plan of amends--of atonement--for inheriting their father's estate; and he
54thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own
55part. His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his views, and established all his
56strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The next morning,
57however, made an alteration; for in a quarter of an hour's tête-à-tête with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation
58beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes, that a mistress for it might be
59found at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the
60very Jane he had fixed on. "As to her younger daughters, she could not take upon her to say--she could not positively
61answer--but she did not know of any prepossession;--her eldest daughter she must just mention--she felt it incumbent on
62her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged." Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth--and it was soon
63done--done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her
64of course. Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have two daughters married; and the man
65whom she could not bear to speak of the day before, was now high in her good graces. Lydia's intention of walking to
66Meryton was not forgotten: every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the
67request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins
68had followed him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the
69collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings
70discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though
71prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be free
72from them there: his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk;
73and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close his
74large book, and go.
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