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1"If I," said Mr. Collins, "were so fortunate as to be able to sing, I should have great pleasure, I am sure, in obliging
2the company with an air; for I consider music as a very innocent diversion, and perfectly compatible with the profession
3of a clergyman. I do not mean, however, to assert that we can be justified in devoting too much of our time to music,
4for there are certainly other things to be attended to. The rector of a parish has much to do. In the first place, he
5must make such an agreement for tithes as may be beneficial to himself and not offensive to his patron. He must write
6his own sermons; and the time that remains will not be too much for his parish duties, and the care and improvement of
7his dwelling, which he cannot be excused from making as comfortable as possible. And I do not think it of light
8importance that he should have attentive and conciliatory manners towards everybody, especially towards those to whom he
9owes his preferment. I cannot acquit him of that duty; nor could I think well of the man who should omit an occasion of
10testifying his respect towards anybody connected with the family." And with a bow to Mr. Darcy, he concluded his speech,
11which had been spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room. Many stared--many smiled; but no one looked more amused
12than Mr. Bennet himself, while his wife seriously commended Mr. Collins for having spoken so sensibly, and observed, in
13a half-whisper to Lady Lucas, that he was a remarkably clever, good kind of young man. To Elizabeth it appeared, that
14had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been
15impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit, or finer success; and happy did she think it for Bingley and
16her sister that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice, and that his feelings were not of a sort to be much
17distressed by the folly which he must have witnessed. That his two sisters and Mr. Darcy, however, should have such an
18opportunity of ridiculing her relations was bad enough; and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the
19gentleman, or the insolent smiles of the ladies, were more intolerable. The rest of the evening brought her little
20amusement. She was teased by Mr. Collins, who continued most perseveringly by her side; and though he could not prevail
21with her to dance with him again, put it out of her power to dance with others. In vain did she entreat him to stand up
22with somebody else, and offered to introduce him to any young lady in the room. He assured her that, as to dancing, he
23was perfectly indifferent to it; that his chief object was, by delicate attentions, to recommend himself to her; and
24that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her the whole evening. There was no arguing upon such a
25project. She owed her greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas, who often joined them, and good-naturedly engaged Mr.
26Collins's conversation to herself. She was at least free from the offence of Mr. Darcy's further notice: though often
27standing within a very short distance of her, quite disengaged, he never came near enough to speak. She felt it to be
28the probable consequence of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in it. The Longbourn party were the last of all
29the company to depart; and by a manœuvre of Mrs. Bennet had to wait for their carriage a quarter of an hour after
30everybody else was gone, which gave them time to see how heartily they were wished away by some of the family. Mrs.
31Hurst and her sister scarcely opened their mouths except to complain of fatigue, and were evidently impatient to have
32the house to themselves. They repulsed every attempt of Mrs. Bennet at conversation, and, by so doing, threw a languor
33over the whole party, which was very little relieved by the long speeches of Mr. Collins, who was complimenting Mr.
34Bingley and his sisters on the elegance of their entertainment, and the hospitality and politeness which had marked
35their behaviour to their guests. Darcy said nothing at all. Mr. Bennet, in equal silence, was enjoying the scene. Mr.
36Bingley and Jane were standing together a little detached from the rest, and talked only to each other. Elizabeth
37preserved as steady a silence as either Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley; and even Lydia was too much fatigued to utter more
38than the occasional exclamation of "Lord, how tired I am!" accompanied by a violent yawn. When at length they arose to
39take leave, Mrs. Bennet was most pressingly civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon at Longbourn; and
40addressed herself particularly to Mr. Bingley, to assure him how happy he would make them, by eating a family dinner
41with them at any time, without the ceremony of a formal invitation. Bingley was all grateful pleasure; and he readily
42engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on her after his return from London, whither he was obliged to go
43the next day for a short time. Mrs. Bennet was perfectly satisfied; and quitted the house under the delightful
44persuasion that, allowing for the necessary preparations of settlements, new carriages, and wedding clothes, she should
45undoubtedly see her daughter settled at Netherfield in the course of three or four months. Of having another daughter
46married to Mr. Collins she thought with equal certainty, and with considerable, though not equal, pleasure. Elizabeth
47was the least dear to her of all her children; and though the man and the match were quite good enough for her, the
48worth of each was eclipsed by Mr. Bingley and Netherfield. [Illustration: "to assure you in the most animated language"
49] CHAPTER XIX. [Illustration] The next day opened a new scene at Longbourn. Mr. Collins made his declaration in form.
50Having resolved to do it without loss of time, as his leave of absence extended only to the following Saturday, and
51having no feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even at the moment, he set about it in a very orderly
52manner, with all the observances which he supposed a regular part of the business. On finding Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth,
53and one of the younger girls together, soon after breakfast, he addressed the mother in these words,-- "May I hope,
54madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her
55in the course of this morning?" Before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise, Mrs. Bennet instantly
56answered,-- "Oh dear! Yes, certainly. I am sure Lizzy will be very happy--I am sure she can have no objection. Come,
57Kitty, I want you upstairs." And gathering her work together, she was hastening away, when Elizabeth called out,-- "Dear
58ma'am, do not go. I beg you will not go. Mr. Collins must excuse me. He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need
59not hear. I am going away myself." "No, no, nonsense, Lizzy. I desire you will stay where you are." And upon Elizabeth's
60seeming really, with vexed and embarrassed looks, about to escape, she added, "Lizzy, I insist upon your staying and
61hearing Mr. Collins." Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction; and a moment's consideration making her also
62sensible that it would be wisest to get it over as soon and as quietly as possible, she sat down again, and tried to
63conceal, by incessant employment, the feelings which were divided between distress and diversion. Mrs. Bennet and Kitty
64walked off, and as soon as they were gone, Mr. Collins began,-- "Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty,
65so far from doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other perfections. You would have been less amiable in my eyes
66had there not been this little unwillingness; but allow me to assure you that I have your respected mother's permission
67for this address. You can hardly doubt the purport of my discourse, however your natural delicacy may lead you to
68dissemble; my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as soon as I entered the house I singled you out as
69the companion of my future life. But before I am run away with by my feelings on this subject, perhaps it will be
70advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying--and, moreover, for coming into Hertfordshire with the design of
71selecting a wife, as I certainly did."
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