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Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Chapter 22
The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again during the chief 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 good humour," said she, "and I am more obliged to you than I can express." Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable1, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so favourable2, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost secure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here she did injustice3 to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge4 to throw himself 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 to conjecture5 his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. His reception, however, was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence6 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 they entered the house he earnestly entreated7 her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation8 must be waived9 for the present, the lady felt no inclination10 to trifle with his happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely11 from the pure and disinterested12 desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained.
Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied13 to for their consent; and it was bestowed14 with a most joyful15 alacrity16. Mr. Collins's present circumstances made it a most eligible17 match for their daughter, to whom they could give little fortune; and his prospects19 of future wealth were exceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate, with more interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William gave it as his decided20 opinion, that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of the Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient21 that both he and his wife should make their appearance at St. James's. The whole family, in short, were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension22 of Charlotte's dying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment23 to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her husband. Without thinking highly either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative24 from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business was the surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, and probably would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings must be hurt by such a disapprobation. She resolved to give her the information herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins, when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy25 was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; for the curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth26 in such very direct questions on his return as required some ingenuity27 to evade28, and he was at the same time exercising great self-denial, for he was longing29 to publish his prosperous love.
As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the family, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever his engagements might allow him to visit them.
"My dear madam," he replied, "this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible."
They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said:
"But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, my good sir? You had better neglect your relations than run the risk of offending your patroness."
"My dear sir," replied Mr. Collins, "I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking so material a step without her ladyship's concurrence30."
"You cannot be too much upon your guard. Risk anything rather than her displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us again, 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 gratitude31 is warmly excited by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, and for every other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin Elizabeth."
With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equally surprised that he meditated32 a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her 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 a solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by no means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself by such an example as hers, he might become a very agreeable companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this kind was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before.
The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; but that Charlotte could encourage him seemed almost as far from possibility as she could encourage him herself, and her astonishment33 was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and she could not help crying out:
"Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte—impossible!"
The steady countenance34 which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to a momentary35 confusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained36 her composure, and calmly replied:
"Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure37 any woman's good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?"
But Elizabeth had now recollected38 herself, and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure with tolerable firmness that the prospect18 of their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her all imaginable happiness.
"I see what you are feeling," replied Charlotte. "You must be surprised, very much surprised—so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state."
Elizabeth quietly answered "Undoubtedly39;" and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offers of marriage within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she had not supposed it to be possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a most humiliating picture! And to the pang40 of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem41, was added the distressing42 conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.
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1
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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2
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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3
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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4
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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5
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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6
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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7
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
solicitation
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| n.诱惑；揽货；恳切地要求；游说 | |
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9
waived
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| v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等） | |
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10
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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11
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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12
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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13
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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14
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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16
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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17
eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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18
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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19
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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20
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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21
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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22
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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23
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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24
preservative
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| n.防腐剂；防腐料；保护料；预防药 | |
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25
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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26
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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27
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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28
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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29
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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30
concurrence
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| n.同意；并发 | |
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31
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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32
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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33
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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34
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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35
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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36
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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37
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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38
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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40
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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41
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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42
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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