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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 414
natured； gossiping Lucases。 I shall not sport with your impatience；
by reading what he says on that point。 What relates to yourself； is
as follows。 ‘Having thus offered you the sincere congratulations of
Mrs。 Collins and myself on this happy event； let me now add a
short hint on the subject of another； of which we have been
advertised by the same authority。 Your daughter Elizabeth； it is
presumed； will not long bear the name of Bennet； after her elder
sister has resigned it； and the chosen partner of her fate； may be
reasonably looked up to； as one of the most illustrious personages
in this land。’
‘Can you possibly guess； Lizzy； who is meant by this？’ ‘This
young gentleman is blessed in a peculiar way； with every thing the
heart of mortal can most desire；—splendid property； noble
kindred； and extensive patronage。 Yet in spite of all these
temptations； let me warn my cousin Elizabeth； and yourself； of
what evils you may incur； by a precipitate closure with this
gentleman’s proposals； which； of course； you will be inclined to
take immediate advantage of。’
‘Have you any idea； Lizzy； who this gentleman is？ But now it
comes out。’
‘My motive for cautioning you； is as follows。 We have reason to
imagine that his aunt； Lady Catherine de Bourgh； does not look on
the match with a friendly eye。’
‘Mr。 Darcy； you see； is the man！ Now； Lizzy； I think I have
surprised you。 Could he； or the Lucases； have pitched on any man；
within the circle of our acquaintance； whose name would have
given the lie more effectually to what they related？ Mr。 Darcy； who
never looks at any woman but to see a blemish； and who probably
never looked at you in his life！ It is admirable！’
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 415
Elizabeth tried to join in her father’s pleasantry； but could only
force one most reluctant smile。 Never had his wit been directed in
a manner so little agreeable to her。
‘Are you not diverted？’
‘Oh！ yes。 Pray read on。’
‘After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship
last night； she immediately； with her usual condescension；
expressed what she felt on the occasion； when it become apparent；
that on the score of some family objections on the part of my
cousin； she would never give her consent to what she termed so
disgraceful a match。 I thought it my duty to give the speediest
intelligence of this to my cousin； that she and her noble admirer
may be aware of what they are about； and not run hastily into a
marriage which has not been properly sanctioned。’ ‘Mr。 Collins
moreover adds；’ ‘I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia’s sad
business has been so well hushed up； and am only concerned that
their living together before the marriage took place； should be so
generally known。 I must not； however； neglect the duties of my
station； or refrain from declaring my amazement； at hearing that
you received the young couple into your house as soon as they
were married。 It was an encouragement of vice； and had I been
the rector of Longbourn； I should very strenuously have opposed
it。 You ought certainly to forgive them as a christian； but never to
admit them in your sight； or allow their names to be mentioned in
your hearing。’ ‘That is his notion of christian forgiveness！ The rest
of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte’s situation； and his
expectation of a young olive…branch。 But； Lizzy； you look as if you
did not enjoy it。 You are not going to be Missish； I hope； and
pretend to be affronted at an idle report。 For what do we live； but
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 416
to make sport for our neighbours； and laugh at them in our turn？’
‘Oh！’ cried Elizabeth； ‘I am excessively diverted。 But it is so
strange！’
‘Yes—that is what makes it amusing。 Had they fixed on any
other man it would have been nothing； but his perfect
indifference； and your pointed dislike； make it so delightfully
absurd！ Much as I abominate writing； I would not give up Mr。
Collins’s correspondence for any consideration。 Nay； when I read
a letter of his； I cannot help giving him the preference even over
Wickham； much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my
son…in…law。 And pray； Lizzy； what said Lady Catherine about this
report？ Did she call to refuse her consent？’
To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh； and as
it had been asked without the least suspicion； she was not
distressed by his repeating it。 Elizabeth had never been more at a
loss to make her feelings appear what they were not。 It was
necessary to laugh； when she would rather have cried。 Her father
had most cruelly mortified her； by what he said of Mr。 Darcy’s
indifference； and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want
of penetration； or fear that perhaps； instead of his seeing too little；
she might have fancied too much。
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 417
CHAPTER XVI
nstead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend；
as Elizabeth half expected Mr。 Bingley to do； he was able to
I
bring Darcy with him to Longbourn before many days had
passed after Lady Catherine’s visit。 The gentlemen arrived early；
and； before Mrs。 Bennet had time to tell him of their having seen
his aunt； of which her daughter sat in momentary dread； Bingley；
who wanted to be alone with Jane； proposed their all walking out。
It was agreed to。 Mrs。 Bennet was not in the habit of walking；
Mary could never spare time； but the remaining five set off