Chapter 15

MR.  COLLINS was not a sensible man, and the deficiency
of nature had been but little assisted by education or society;
he 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.
he subjection in which his father had brought him up, had
given him originally great humility of manner, but it was now
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 tete-a-tete 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 recal 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
retum 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.