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me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence
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of my affection。 To fortune I am perfectly indifferent； and shall
make no demand of that nature on your father； since I am well
aware that it could not be complied with； and that one thousand
pounds in the 4 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； therefore； I shall be uniformly silent； and 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 farther 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 decline them。’
‘I am not now to learn；’ replied Mr。 Collins； with a formal wave
of the hand； ‘that it is usual with young ladies to reject the
addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept； when he
first applies for their favour； and that sometimes the refusal is
repeated a second or even a third time。 I am therefore by no means
discouraged by what you have just said； and shall hope to lead you
to the altar ere long。’
‘Upon my word； Sir；’ cried Elizabeth； ‘your hope is rather an
extraordinary one after my declaration。 I do assure you that I am
not one of those young ladies （if such young ladies there are） who
are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being
asked a second time。 I am perfectly serious in my refusal。—You
could not make me happy； and I am convinced that I am the last
woman in the world who would make you so。—Nay； were your
friend Lady Catherine to know me； I am persuaded she would find
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me in every respect ill qualified for the situation。
‘Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so；’ said Mr。
Collins very gravely—‘but I cannot imagine that her ladyship
would at all disapprove of you。 And you may be certain that when I
have the honour of seeing her again I shall speak in the highest
terms of your modesty； economy； and other amiable qualifications。’
‘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 your being
otherwise。 In making me the offer； you must have satisfied the
delicacy of your feelings with regard to my family； and may take
possession of Longbourn estate whenever it falls； without any self…
reproach。 This matter may be considered； therefore； as finally
settled。’ And rising as she thus spoke； she would have quitted the
room； had not Mr。 Collins thus addressed her；
‘When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this
subject I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you
have now given me； though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at
present； because I know it to be the established custom of your sex
to reject a man on the first application； and 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 exceedingly。 If what I have hitherto said can appear to
you in the form of encouragement； I know not how to express my
refusal in such a way as may convince you of its being one。’
‘You must give me leave to flatter myself； my dear cousin； that
your refusal of my addresses is merely words of course。 My reasons
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for believing it are briefly these：—It does not appear to me that my
hand is unworthy your acceptance； or that the establishment I can
offer would be any other than highly desirable。 My situation in life；
my connections with the family of De Bourgh； and my relationship
to your own； are circumstances highly in my favour； and you
should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your
manifold attractions； it is by no means certain that another offer of
marriage may ever be made you。 Your portion is unhappily so
small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness
and amiable qualifications。 As I must therefore conclude that you
are not serious in your rejection of me； I shall chuse to attribute it
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 pretension 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 and again for the honour you have done me in
your proposals； but to accept them is absolutely impossible。 My
feelings in every respect forbid it。 Can I speak plainer？ Do not
consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you； but
as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart。’
‘You are uniformly charming！’ cried he； with an air of awkward
gallantry； ‘and I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the
express authority of both your excellent parents； my proposals will
not fail of being acceptable。’
To such perseverance in wilful self…deception Elizabeth would
make no reply； and immediately and in silence withdrew；
determined； that if he persisted in considering her repeated
refusa