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Elizabeth sat with her mother and sisters, reflecting on what she had heard when Sir William Lucas himself appeared. Doubting whether she was authorised to mention it, the question answered. He came to announce the engagement to the family.
With many compliments to them and much self-gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the houses, Sir Lucas unfolded the matter to an incredulous audience.
Mrs. Bennet, with more perseverance than politeness, protested he must be entirely mistaken.
Lydia, always unguarded and often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed, "Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story? Do not you know that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?"
Nothing less than the good humour of a courtier could have borne without anger such treatment. But Sir William's good breeding carried him through it all. He listened to all their impertinence with the most forbearing courtesy. And he begged leave to be positive as to the truth of his information.
Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so unpleasant a situation, now put herself forward to confirm his account. She mentioned her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte herself. She endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters by the earnestness of her congratulations to Sir William. She was joined by Jane in making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London.
Mrs. Bennet was in fact too much overcome to say a great deal while Sir William remained. No sooner had he left them than her feelings found a rapid vent. In the first place, she persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter. Secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken in. Thirdly, she trusted that they would never be happy together. Fourthly, she believed the match might be broken off.
Two inferences were deduced from the whole. One, Elizabeth was the real cause of the mischief. The other that she herself had been barbarously misused by them all. On these two points, she principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could console, and nothing could appease her. Nor did that day wear out her resentment.
A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her.
Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match. She said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness. Elizabeth could not persuade her to consider it improbable.
Kitty and Lydia were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman. It affected them in no other way than as a piece of news to spread at Meryton.
Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married. She called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was. Mrs. Bennet's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough to drive happiness away.
Between Elizabeth and Charlotte, there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject. Elizabeth felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again. Her disappointment in Charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her sister. She was sure her opinion of Jane's rectitude and delicacy could never be shaken. For her happiness, Elizabeth grew daily more anxious. Bingley had now been gone a week, and nothing heard of his return.
Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter and was counting the days till she heard more again. The promised letter of thanks from Mr. Collins arrived on Tuesday. Addressed to their father and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a twelvemonth's abode in the family might have prompted. He proceeded to inform them, with many rapturous expressions, of his happiness in having obtained the affection of their amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas. With the view of enjoying her society, he hoped to return on Monday fortnight. Lady Catherine, he added, so heartily approved his marriage, that she wished it to take place as soon as possible. He trusted this would be an unanswerable argument. With his amiable Charlotte, he would hope to name an early day for making him the happiest of men.
Mr. Collins's return was no longer a matter of pleasure to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she was as much disposed to complain of it as her husband. It was very strange that he should come to Longbourn instead of to Lucas Lodge. It was also very inconvenient and exceedingly troublesome. She hated having visitors in the house while her health was so indifferent. Young lovers were the most disagreeable of all people. Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet, and they gave way only to the greater distress of Mr. Bingley's continued absence.
Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable on this subject. Day after day passed away without bringing any tidings of him expect the report of his coming no more to Netherfield the whole winter. A report which highly incensed Mrs. Bennet, and which she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous falsehood.
Even Elizabeth began to fear that his sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Unwilling as she was to admit an idea so destructive of Jane's happiness, and so dishonourable to the stability of Jane's lover, she could not prevent its frequently occurring. The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters and his overpowering friend might be too much for the strength of his attachment. Added to this the attractions of Miss Darcy and the amusements of London.
As for Jane, her anxiety under this suspense was more painful than Elizabeth's. Whatever she felt, she was desirous of concealing, and between herself and Elizabeth, the subject was never alluded to. As no such delicacy restrained her mother, an hour seldom passed in which she did not talk of Bingley. Frequently, expressing her impatience for his arrival, or requiring Jane to confirm that if he did not come back, she would think herself ill-used. It needed all Jane's steady mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable tranquillity.
Mr. Collins returned punctually on Monday fortnight. His reception at Longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had been on his first introduction. He was too happy, however, to need much attention. Luckily for the others, the business of love-making relieved them from a great deal of his company. The chief of every day he spent at Lucas Lodge. He sometimes returned to Longbourn only in time to make an apology for his absence before the family went to bed.
Mrs. Bennet was in a most pitiable state. The very mention of anything concerning the match threw her into an agony of ill-humour. But wherever she went, she was sure of hearing it talked of. The sight of Miss Lucas was odious to her. As her successor in that house, she regarded her with jealous abhorrence. Whenever Charlotte came to see them, she concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession. Whenever she spoke in a low voice to Mr. Collins, Mrs. Bennet was convinced that they were talking of the Longbourn estate, and resolving to turn herself and her daughters out of the house, as soon as Mr. Bennet were dead. She complained bitterly of all this to her husband and eldest daughters.
"Indeed, Mr. Bennet, it is very hard to think that Charlotte Lucas should ever be mistress of this house. I should be forced to make way for her, and live to see her take her place in it!"
"My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor."
This was not very consoling to Mrs. Bennet, and instead of making any answer, she went on as before.
"I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate. If it was not for the entail, I should not mind it."
"What should not you mind?"
"I should not mind anything at all."
"Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such insensibility."
"I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for anything about the entail. How anyone could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one's daughters, I cannot understand. And all for the sake of Mr. Collins too! Why should he have it more than anybody else?"
"I leave it to yourself to determine," said Mr. Bennet.