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The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases. Again during the chief of the day Miss Lucas so kindly listened to Mr. Collins.
Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. "It keeps him in good humour, 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.
Mr. Collins went missing from early the following day. Later at diner when questioned he was most evasive as to his whereabouts.
He was to begin his journey early on the morrow, so they performed the ceremony of leave-taking when the ladies moved for the night.
With great politeness and cordiality, Mrs. Bennet said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again. "Whenever your engagements might allow."
"My dear madam, this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive," he replied. "And you may be very certain that I will avail myself of it as soon as possible."
They were all astonished.
Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said, "But is there not a 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, I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution. You may depend upon my not taking so material a step without her Ladyship's concurrence," Mr. Collins replied.
"You cannot be too much upon your guard. Risk anything rather than her displeasure. If you find it likely to be raised by you're coming to us again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home. Be satisfied that we shall take no offence."
"Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is excited by such affectionate attention. Depend upon it. You will soon receive from me a letter of thanks for this and every other mark of your regard during my stay. As for my fair cousins, I shall now take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin Elizabeth. Tough my absence may not be long enough to render such sentiments necessary."
With proper civilities, the ladies then withdrew. All equally surprised that he meditated a quick return.
If any of them thought he might paying his addresses to one of her younger girls, every hope of this kind was done away on the following morning.
Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast. In a private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before. Mr. Collins had visited the Lucases and proposed marriage. The proposal was accepted by Caroline herself and blessed by her parents.
The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with her friend had occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two. That Charlotte could encourage him seemed as far from possibility as she could encourage him herself.
Her astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome the bounds of decorum, and she could not help rudely crying out, "Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte—impossible!"
The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to momentary confusion. She should have expected to receive so direct a reproach from Elizabeth.
She soon regained 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 procure any woman's good opinion because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?"
Having recollected herself, and making a strong effort, Elizabeth assured with tolerable firmness 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 wished 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. 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. Marriage has always been my object. It is the only provision for well-educated young women of small fortune. However uncertain of giving happiness, a marriage will at least keep a lady from poverty and need."
Elizabeth quietly answered, "Undoubtedly."
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. She had not supposed it possible that Charlotte would sacrifice so much to worldly advantage.
Charlotte, the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating picture! To the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction of the impossibility for that friend to be happy in the lot she had chosen.