CHAPTER XXII.
The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and again during thechief of the day, was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins.Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. ”It keeps him in goodhumour,” said she, ”and I am more obliged to you than I can express.”Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, andthat it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This wasvery amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabethhad any conception of;--its object was nothing less, than to secure herfrom any return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towardsherself. Such was Miss Lucas's scheme; and appearances were sofavourable that when they parted at night, she would have felt almostsure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon.But here, she did injustice to the fire and independence of hischaracter, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the nextmorning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throwhimself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins,from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail toconjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt knowntill its success could be known likewise; for though feeling almostsecure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging,he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. Hisreception however was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas perceivedhim from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantlyset out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had she daredto hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there.
In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as theyentered the house, he earnestly entreated her to name the day that wasto make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must bewaved for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with hishappiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature, mustguard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for itscontinuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure anddisinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon thatestablishment were gained.
Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent;and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Mr. Collins's presentcircumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter, to whomthey could give little fortune; and his prospects of future wealth wereexceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate with moreinterest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longerMr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William gave it as his decidedopinion, that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of theLongbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wifeshould make their appearance at St. James's. The whole family in shortwere properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopesof _coming out_ a year or two sooner than they might otherwise havedone; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte'sdying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She hadgained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections werein general satisfactory. Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible noragreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must beimaginary. But still he would be her husband.--Without thinking highlyeither of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; itwas the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of smallfortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be theirpleasantest preservative from want. This preservative she had nowobtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever beenhandsome, she felt all the good luck of it. The least agreeablecircumstance in the business, was the surprise it must occasion toElizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued beyond that of any otherperson. Elizabeth would wonder, and probably would blame her; and thoughher resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings must be hurt by suchdisapprobation. She resolved to give her the information herself, andtherefore charged Mr. Collins when he returned to Longbourn to dinner,to drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family. A promiseof secrecy was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be keptwithout difficulty; for the curiosity excited by his long absence, burstforth in such very direct questions on his return, as required someingenuity to evade, and he was at the same time exercising greatself-denial, for he was longing to publish his prosperous love.
As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of thefamily, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies movedfor the night; and Mrs. Bennet with great politeness and cordiality saidhow happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever hisother engagements might allow him to visit them.
”My dear Madam,” he replied, ”this invitation is particularlygratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and youmay be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon aspossible.”
They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish forso speedy a return, immediately said,
”But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, mygood sir?--You had better neglect your relations, than run the risk ofoffending your patroness.”
”My dear sir,” replied Mr. Collins, ”I am particularly obliged to youfor this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking somaterial a step without her ladyship's concurrence.”
”You cannot be too much on your guard. Risk any thing rather than herdispleasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to usagain, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home,and be satisfied that _we_ shall take no offence.”
”Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by suchaffectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receivefrom me a letter of thanks for this, as well as for every other mark ofyour regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins,though my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shallnow take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not exceptingmy cousin Elizabeth.”
With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equallysurprised to find that he meditated a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wishedto understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one ofher younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him.She rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was asolidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by nomeans so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read andimprove himself by such an example as her's, he might become a veryagreeable companion. But on the following morning, every hope of thiskind was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in aprivate conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before.
The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with herfriend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; butthat Charlotte could encourage him, seemed almost as far frompossibility as that she could encourage him herself, and herastonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first thebounds of decorum, and she could not help crying out,
”Engaged to Mr. Collins! my dear Charlotte,--impossible!”
The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling herstory, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct areproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soonregained her composure, and calmly replied,
”Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza?--Do you think it incrediblethat Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion,because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?”
But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effortfor it, was able to assure her with tolerable firmness that the prospectof their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wishedher all imaginable happiness.
”I see what you are feeling,” replied Charlotte,--”you must besurprised, very much surprised,--so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing tomarry you. But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope youwill be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic you know. Inever was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins'scharacter, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that mychance of happiness with him is as fair, as most people can boast onentering the marriage state.”
Elizabeth quietly answered ”Undoubtedly;”--and after an awkward pause,they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay muchlonger, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. Itwas a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of sounsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offersof marriage within three days, was nothing in comparison of his beingnow accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimonywas not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed itpossible that when called into action, she would have sacrificed everybetter feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins,was a most humiliating picture!--And to the pang of a friend disgracingherself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing convictionthat it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lotshe had chosen.