Chapter 19

THE next day opened a new scene at Longbourn.  Mr. Colllns
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 right
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,
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 ofi ncreasing 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.