Chapter 20

MR.  COLLINS was not left long to the silent contemplation
of his successful love; for Mrs. Bennet, having dawdled about
in the vestibule to watch for the end of the conference, no
sooner saw Elizabeth open the door and with quick step pass
her towards the staircase, than she entered the breakfast-
room, and congratulated both him and herself in warm terms
on the happy prospect of their nearer connection.  Mr. Collins
received and returned these felicitations with equal pleasure,
and then proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview,
with the result of which he trusted he had every reason to be
satisfied, since the refusal which his cousin had stedfastly
given him would naturally flow from her bashful modest"
and the genuine delicacy of her character.
This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; -- she
would have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter
had meant to encourage him by protesting against his proposals, 
but she dared not to believe it, and could not help
saying so.
"But depend upon it, Mr. Collins," she added, "that Lizzy
shall be brought to reason.  I will speak to her about it
myself directly.  She is a very headstrong foolish girl, and
does not know her own interest; but I will make her
know it."
"Pardon me for interrupting you, Madam," cried Mr. 
Collins; "but if she is really headstrong and foolish, I know
not whether she would altogether be a very desirable wife to
a man in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the
marriage state.  If therefore she actually persists in rejecting
my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her into accepting 
me, because if liable to such defects of temper, she could
not contribute much to my felicity."
"Sir, you quite misunderstand me," said Mrs. Bennet,
alarmed.  "Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these.
In every thing else she is as good natured a girl as ever lived.
I will go directly to Mr. Bennet, and we shall very soon settle
it with her, I am sure."
She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying
instantly to her husband, called out as she entered the library,
"Oh!  Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all
in an uproar.  You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. 
Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you do not
make haste he will change his mind and not have her."
Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered,
and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was
not in the least altered by her communication.
"I have not the pleasure of understanding you," said he,
when she had finished her speech.  "Of what are you talking?"
"Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy.  Lizzy declares she will not have
Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not
have Lizzy."
"And what am I to do on the occasion? -- It seems an hopeless business."
"Speak to Lizzy about it yourself.  Tell her that you insist
upon her marrying him."
"Let her be called down.  She shall hear my opinion."
Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to 
the library.
"Come here, child," cried her father as she appeared.  "I have
sent for you on an affair ofimportance.  I understand that Mr. 
Collins has made you an offer of marriage.  Is it true?"  Elizabeth replied that it was.  "Very well -- and this offer of marriage
you have refused?"
"I have, Sir."
"Very well.  We now come to the point.  Your mother insists
upon your accepting it.  Is not it so, Mrs. Bennet?"
"Yes, or I will never see her again."
"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth.  From
this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. -- Your
mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr,
Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."
Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such
a beginning; but Mrs. Bennet who had persuaded herself
that her husband regarded the affair as she wished, was
excessively disappointed.
"What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, by talking in this way?
You promised me to insist upon her marrying him."
"My dear," replied her husband, "I have two small favours
to request.  First, that you will allow me the free use of my
understanding on the present occasion; and secondly, of my
room.  I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as
may be."
Not yet, however, in spite of her disappointment in her
husband, did Mrs. Bennet give up the point.  She talked to
Elizabeth again and again; coaxed and threatened her by
turns.  She endeavoured to secure Jane in her interest but
Jane with all possible mildness declined interfering; -- and
Elizabeth sometimes with real earnestness and sometimes
with playful gaiety replied to her attacks.  Though her manner
varied however, her determination never did.
Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on
what had passed.  He thought too well of himself to comprehend 
on what motive his cousin could refuse him; and
though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other way.  His
regard for her was quite imaginary; and the possibility of her
deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling
any regret.
While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas
came to spend the day with them.  She was met in the vestibule
by Lydia, who, flying to her, cried in a half whisper, "I am
glad you are come, for there is such fun here! -- What do you
think has happened this morning? -- Mr. Collins has made
an offer to Lizzy, and she will not have him."
Charlotte had hardly time to answer, before they were
joined by Kitty, who came to tell the same news, and no sooner
had they entered the breakfast-room, where Mrs. Bennet was
alone, than she likewise began on the subject, calling on Miss
Lucas for her compassion, and entreating her to persuade her
friend Lizzy to comply with the wishes of all her family.  "Pray
do, my dear Miss Lucas," she added in a melancholy tone, "for
nobody is on my side, nobody takes part with me, I am cruelly
used, nobody feels for my poor nerves."
Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and
Elizabeth.
"Aye, there she comes," continued Mrs. Bennet, "looking
as unconcerned as may be, and caring no more for us than if
we were at York, provided she can have her own way. -- But
I tell you what, Miss Lizzy, if you take it into your head to go
on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, you will never
get a husband at all -- and I am sure I do not know who is to
maintain you when your father is dead. -- I shall not be able
to keep you -- and so I warn you. -- I have done with you from
this very day. -- I told you in the library, you know, that I
should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good
as my word.  I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful children,
 -- Not that I have much pleasure indeed in talking to any
body.  People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can
have no great inclination for talking.  Nobody can tell what I
suffer! -- But it is always so.  Those who do not complain are
never pitied."
Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible
that any attempt to reason with or sooth her would only
increase the irritation.  She talked on, therefore, without interruption from any of them till they were joined by Mr, Collins,
who entered with an air more stately than usual, and on perceiving whom, she said to the girls,
"Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold your
tongues, and let Mr. Collins and me have a little conversation
together."
Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and
Kitty followed, but Lydia stood her ground, determined
to hear all she could; and Charlotte, detained first by
the civility of Mr. Collins, whose inquiries after herself and 
all her family were very minute, and then by a
little curiosity, satisfied herself with walking to the window
and pretending not to hear.  In a doleful voice Mrs. 
Bennet thus began the projected conversation. -- "Oh!  Mr. 
Collins!" --
"My dear Madam," replied he, "let us be for ever silent on
this point.  Far be it from me," he presently continued in a
voice that marked his displeasure, "to resent the behaviour of
your daughter.  Resignation to inevitable evils is the duty of
us all; the peculiar duty of a young man who has been so
fortunate as I have been in early preferment; and I trust I am
resigned.  Perhaps not the less so from feeling a doubt of my
positive happiness had my fair cousin honoured me with her
hand; for I have often observed that resignation is never so
perfect as when the blessing denied begins to lose somewhat of
its value in our estimation.  You will not, I hope, consider me
as shewing any disrespect to your family, my dear Madam,
by thus withdrawing my pretensions to your daughter's
favour, without having paid yourself and Mr. Bennet the
compliment of requesting you to interpose your authority in
my behalf.  My conduct may I fear be objectionable in having
accepted my dismission from your daughter's lips instead of
your own.  But we are all liable to error.  I have certainly meant
well through the whole affair.  My object has been to secure an
amiable companion for myself, with due consideration for the
advantage of all your family, and if my manner has been at all
reprehensible, I here beg leave to apologise."