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The next day opened a new scene at Longbourn. On finding Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and one of the younger girls together, soon after breakfast, Mr. Collins addressed the mother. "May I hope for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I ask for the honour of a private audience with her in the course of this morning?"
Before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise, Mrs. Bennet 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."
Kitty was hastening away when Elizabeth called out: "Dear madam, do not go. I beg you will not go. Mr. Collins must excuse me. He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear. I am going away myself."
"No, no, nonsense, Lizzy. I desire you to stay where you are. Lizzy, I insist upon your staying and hearing Mr. Collins."
Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction. A moment's consideration made her think it would be wisest to get it over as soon and as quietly as possible. She sat down again and tried to conceal her feelings, which were divided between distress and diversion.
Mrs. Bennet and Kitty walked off.
As soon as they were gone, Mr. Collins began. "Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, your modesty, rather adds to your other perfections. You would have been less amiable in my eyes had there not been this little unwillingness. 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, but 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 run away with by my feelings on this subject, it would be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying. The reason for coming here with the design of selecting a wife, as I did."
Having only seen solemn composure, the idea of Mr. Collins being run away with by his feelings made Elizabeth almost laugh. She could not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him further.
"My reasons for marrying are many. First, I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness. Thirdly, it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness. The later point I ought to have mentioned earlier. Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion on this subject, with out my asking too! It was but the very Saturday night before I left Hunsford that she said, 'Mr. Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. Choose properly. Choose 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, and bring her to Hunsford, and I will visit her.' It was between our pools at quadrille, while Mrs. Jenkinson was arranging Miss de Bourgh's footstool. Allow me to observe, the notice and kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh is among advantages I offer. You will find her manners beyond anything I can describe. 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. The question remains why Longbourn instead of my neighbourhood, where I can assure you there are many amiable young women. The fact is, I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father. I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters. I would hope the loss to them might be as little as possible when the melancholy event takes place. 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 indifferent, and shall make no demand of that nature on your father. I am well aware that it could not be complied with. One thousand pounds in the four 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, I shall be uniformly silent. 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 further 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 to decline them."
"I am aware it is usual for young ladies to reject the addresses of the man when he first applies for their favour," replied Mr. Collins, with a formal wave of the hand. "And sometimes the refusal is repeated a second, or even a third time. I am not discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long."
"Upon my word, sir, your hope is a rather extraordinary one after my declaration," cried Elizabeth, sceptical of the existence of such ladies. "I do assure you that I am not one of those young ladies who are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second time. I am serious in my refusal. You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could 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? I cannot imagine that her Ladyship would at all disapprove of you," said Mr. Collins very gravely. "You may be certain when I have the honour of seeing her again, I shall speak in the very highest terms of your modesty, economy, and other amiable qualification."
"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 you're being otherwise. In making me the offer, you must have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings with regard to my family. You may take possession of Longbourn estate whenever it falls, without any self-reproach. Consider this matter finally settled."
And rising as she thus spoke, she would have quitted the room, had Mr. Collins not thus addressed her.
"When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on the subject, I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer. I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application. 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. I know not how what I have hitherto said can appear as encouragement, nor how to express my refusal in such a way as to convince you it is one."
"You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin, that your refusal of my addresses is merely words. It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy of your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be undesirable. My situation in life, my connections with the family of de Bourgh, and my relationship to your own, are circumstances highly in my favour. You should take into further consideration that it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may materialise. Your finances are so small that they undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications. I must conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me. I shall choose to attribute the rejection to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females."
"I do assure you, sir, that I have no pretensions 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 for the honour you have done me in your proposals, but to accept them is impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me as an elegant female, intending to plague you, but as a rational creature, speaking the truth."
"You are uniformly charming! I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the express authority of both your excellent parents, my proposals will be acceptable."
To such perseverance in wilful self-deception, Elizabeth would make no reply. She immediately withdrew in silence. If he persisted in considering her repeated refusals as flattering encouragement, he might apply to her father. His negative response might be uttered in such a manner as to be decisive. At least, his behaviour could not be mistaken for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female.