JANE AUSTEN 9 страница

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

refusals as flattering encouragement, to apply to her father,

whose negative might be uttered in such a manner as must be

decisive, and whose behaviour at least could not be mistaken

for the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female.

 

__

 

<CHAPTER XX (20)>

 

MR. COLLINS was not left long to the silent contemplation of

his successful love; for Mrs. Bennet, having dawdled about in

the vestibule to watch for the end of the conference, no sooner

saw Elizabeth open the door and with quick step pass her

towards the staircase, than she entered the breakfast room, and

congratulated both him and herself in warm terms on the happy

prospect of their nearer connection. Mr. Collins received and

returned these felicitations with equal pleasure, and then

proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview, with

the result of which he trusted he had every reason to be

satisfied, since the refusal which his cousin had stedfastly

given him would naturally flow from her bashful modesty and the

genuine delicacy of her character.

 

This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; -- she would

have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had

meant to encourage him by protesting against his proposals, but

she dared not to believe it, and could not help saying so.

 

"But depend upon it, Mr. Collins," she added, "that Lizzy shall

be brought to reason. I will speak to her about it myself

directly. She is a very headstrong foolish girl, and does not

know her own interest; but I will _make_ her know it."

 

"Pardon me for interrupting you, Madam," cried Mr. Collins;

"but if she is really headstrong and foolish, I know not

whether she would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man

in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the

marriage state. If therefore she actually persists in

rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her into

accepting me, because if liable to such defects of temper, she

could not contribute much to my felicity."

 

"Sir, you quite misunderstand me," said Mrs. Bennet, alarmed.

"Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these. In every

thing else she is as good natured a girl as ever lived. I will

go directly to Mr. Bennet, and we shall very soon settle it

with her, I am sure."

 

She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to

her husband, called out as she entered the library,

 

"Oh! Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an

uproar. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for

she vows she will not have him, and if you do not make haste he

will change his mind and not have _her_."

 

Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and

fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in

the least altered by her communication.

 

"I have not the pleasure of understanding you," said he,

when she had finished her speech. "Of what are you talking?"

 

"Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have

Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not

have Lizzy."

 

"And what am I to do on the occasion? -- It seems an hopeless

business."

 

"Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist

upon her marrying him."

 

"Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion."

 

Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to

the library.

 

"Come here, child," cried her father as she appeared. "I have

sent for you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr.

Collins has made you an offer of marriage. Is it true?"

Elizabeth replied that it was. "Very well -- and this offer of

marriage you have refused?"

 

"I have, Sir."

 

"Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists

upon your accepting it. Is not it so, Mrs. Bennet?"

 

"Yes, or I will never see her again."

 

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this

day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. -- Your

mother will never see you again if you do _not_ marry Mr.

Collins, and I will never see you again if you _do_."

 

Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a

beginning; but Mrs. Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her

husband regarded the affair as she wished, was excessively

disappointed.

 

"What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, by talking in this way?

You promised me to insist upon her marrying him."

 

"My dear," replied her husband, "I have two small favours to

request. First, that you will allow me the free use of my

understanding on the present occasion; and secondly, of my

room. I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as

may be."

 

Not yet, however, in spite of her disappointment in her

husband, did Mrs. Bennet give up the point. She talked to

Elizabeth again and again; coaxed and threatened her by turns.

She endeavoured to secure Jane in her interest but Jane with

all possible mildness declined interfering; -- and Elizabeth,

sometimes with real earnestness and sometimes with playful

gaiety, replied to her attacks. Though her manner varied,

however, her determination never did.

 

Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had

passed. He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what

motive his cousin could refuse him; and though his pride was

hurt, he suffered in no other way. His regard for her was

quite imaginary; and the possibility of her deserving her

mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret.

 

While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas came

to spend the day with them. She was met in the vestibule by

Lydia, who, flying to her, cried in a half whisper, "I am glad

you are come, for there is such fun here! -- What do you think

has happened this morning? -- Mr. Collins has made an offer to

Lizzy, and she will not have him."

 

Charlotte had hardly time to answer, before they were joined by

Kitty, who came to tell the same news, and no sooner had they

entered the breakfast-room, where Mrs. Bennet was alone, than

she likewise began on the subject, calling on Miss Lucas for

her compassion, and entreating her to persuade her friend Lizzy

to comply with the wishes of all her family. "Pray do, my dear

Miss Lucas," she added in a melancholy tone, "for nobody is on

my side, nobody takes part with me, I am cruelly used, nobody

feels for my poor nerves."

 

Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and

Elizabeth.

 

"Aye, there she comes," continued Mrs. Bennet, "looking as

unconcerned as may be, and caring no more for us than if we

were at York, provided she can have her own way. -- But I tell

you what, Miss Lizzy, if you take it into your head to go on

refusing every offer of marriage in this way, you will never

get a husband at all -- and I am sure I do not know who is to

maintain you when your father is dead. -- _I_ shall not be able

to keep you -- and so I warn you. -- I have done with you from

this very day. -- I told you in the library, you know, that

I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good

as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful

children, -- Not that I have much pleasure indeed in talking to

any body. People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints

can have no great inclination for talking. Nobody can tell

what I suffer! -- But it is always so. Those who do not

complain are never pitied."

 

Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible

that any attempt to reason with or sooth her would only

increase the irritation. She talked on, therefore, without

interruption from any of them till they were joined by Mr.

Collins, who entered with an air more stately than usual, and

on perceiving whom, she said to the girls,

 

"Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold your

tongues, and let Mr. Collins and me have a little conversation

together."

 

Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty

followed, but Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all

she could; and Charlotte, detained first by the civility of

Mr. Collins, whose inquiries after herself and all her family

were very minute, and then by a little curiosity, satisfied

herself with walking to the window and pretending not to hear.

In a doleful voice Mrs. Bennet thus began the projected

conversation. -- "Oh! Mr. Collins!" --

 

"My dear Madam," replied he, "let us be for ever silent on this

point. Far be it from me," he presently continued, in a voice

that marked his displeasure, "to resent the behaviour of your

daughter. Resignation to inevitable evils is the duty of us

all; the peculiar duty of a young man who has been so fortunate

as I have been in early preferment; and I trust I am resigned.

Perhaps not the less so from feeling a doubt of my positive

happiness had my fair cousin honoured me with her hand; for I

have often observed that resignation is never so perfect as

when the blessing denied begins to lose somewhat of its value

in our estimation. You will not, I hope, consider me as

shewing any disrespect to your family, my dear Madam, by thus

withdrawing my pretensions to your daughter's favour, without

having paid yourself and Mr. Bennet the compliment of

requesting you to interpose your authority in my behalf. My

conduct may, I fear, be objectionable in having accepted my

dismission from your daughter's lips instead of your own. But

we are all liable to error. I have certainly meant well

through the whole affair. My object has been to secure an

amiable companion for myself, with due consideration for the

advantage of all your family, and if my _manner_ has been at

all reprehensible, I here beg leave to apologise."

 

__

 

<CHAPTER XXI (21)>

 

THE discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end,

and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable

feelings necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some

peevish allusion of her mother. As for the gentleman himself,

his feelings were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or

dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of

manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her,

and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of

himself, were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss

Lucas, whose civility in listening to him, was a seasonable

relief to them all, and especially to her friend.

 

The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill humour or

ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry

pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might shorten

his visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by

it. He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he

still meant to stay.

 

After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton, to inquire if

Mr. Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence from

the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the

town and attended them to their aunt's, where his regret and

vexation, and the concern of every body was well talked

over. -- To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged

that the necessity of his absence had been self imposed.

 

"I found," said he, "as the time drew near, that I had better

not meet Mr. Darcy; -- that to be in the same room, the same

party with him for so many hours together, might be more than

I could bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more

than myself."

 

She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a

full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they

civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer

walked back with them to Longbourn, and during the walk he

particularly attended to her. His accompanying them was a

double advantage; she felt all the compliment it offered to

herself, and it was most acceptable as an occasion of

introducing him to her father and mother.

 

Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet;

it came from Netherfield, and was opened immediately. The

envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed

paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and

Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it,

and saw her dwelling intently on some particular passages.

Jane recollected herself soon, and putting the letter away,

tried to join with her usual cheerfulness in the general

conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject

which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no sooner

had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane

invited her to follow her up stairs. When they had gained

their own room, Jane taking out the letter, said,

 

"This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains, has surprised

me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this

time, and are on their way to town; and without any intention

of coming back again. You shall hear what she says."

 

She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the

information of their having just resolved to follow their

brother to town directly, and of their meaning to dine that day

in Grosvenor street, where Mr. Hurst had a house. The next was

in these words. "I do not pretend to regret any thing I shall

leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend;

but we will hope at some future period, to enjoy many returns

of the delightful intercourse we have known, and in the mean

while may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and

most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that." To

these high flown expressions, Elizabeth listened with all the

insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their

removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it really to lament;

it was not to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield

would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as to the loss of

their society, she was persuaded that Jane must soon cease to

regard it, in the enjoyment of his.

 

"It is unlucky," said she, after a short pause, "that you

should not be able to see your friends before they leave the

country. But may we not hope that the period of future

happiness to which Miss Bingley looks forward, may arrive

earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful intercourse

you have known as friends, will be renewed with yet greater

satisfaction as sisters? -- Mr. Bingley will not be detained

in London by them."

 

"Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return

into Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you -- "

 

"When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the

business which took him to London, might be concluded in three

or four days, but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at the

same time convinced that when Charles gets to town he will be

in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following

him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant

hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintance are

already there for the winter; I wish I could hear that you, my

dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the croud,

but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in

Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season

generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to

prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall

deprive you."

 

"It is evident by this," added Jane, "that he comes back no

more this winter."

 

"It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he

_should_."

 

"Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. -- He is his

own master. But you do not know _all_. I _will_ read you the

passage which particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves

from _you_." "Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to

confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her

again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for

beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she

inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something

still more interesting, from the hope we dare to entertain of

her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever

before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject, but I will

not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you

will not esteem them unreasonable. My brother admires her

greatly already, he will have frequent opportunity now of

seeing her on the most intimate footing, her relations all wish

the connection as much as his own, and a sister's partiality is

not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of

engaging any woman's heart. With all these circumstances to

favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my

dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will

secure the happiness of so many?"

 

"What think you of _this_ sentence, my dear Lizzy?" -- said

Jane as she finished it. "Is it not clear enough? -- Does it

not expressly declare that Caroline neither expects nor wishes

me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her

brother's indifference, and that if she suspects the nature of

my feelings for him, she means (most kindly!) to put me on my

guard? Can there be any other opinion on the subject?"

 

"Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. -- Will you

hear it?"

 

"Most willingly."

 

"You shall have it in few words. Miss Bingley sees that her

brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy.

She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there, and

tries to persuade you that he does not care about you."

 

Jane shook her head.

 

"Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. -- No one who has ever

seen you together, can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley I am

sure cannot. She is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen

half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have

ordered her wedding clothes. But the case is this. We are not

rich enough, or grand enough for them; and she is the more

anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion that

when there has been one intermarriage, she may have less

trouble in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some

ingenuity, and I dare say it would succeed, if Miss de Bourgh

were out of the way. But, my dearest Jane, you cannot

seriously imagine that because Miss Bingley tells you her

brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, he is in the smallest

degree less sensible of _your_ merit than when he took leave of

you on Tuesday, or that it will be in her power to persuade him

that instead of being in love with you, he is very much in love

with her friend."

 

"If we thought alike of Miss Bingley," replied Jane, "your

representation of all this, might make me quite easy. But I

know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of

wilfully deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this

case is, that she is deceived herself."

 

"That is right. -- You could not have started a more happy

idea, since you will not take comfort in mine. Believe her to

be deceived by all means. You have now done your duty by her,

and must fret no longer."

 

"But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best,

in accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing

him to marry elsewhere?"

 

"You must decide for yourself," said Elizabeth, "and if, upon

mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging

his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of

being his wife, I advise you by all means to refuse him."

 

"How can you talk so?" -- said Jane faintly smiling, -- "You

must know that though I should be exceedingly grieved at their

disapprobation, I could not hesitate."

 

"I did not think you would; -- and that being the case,

I cannot consider your situation with much compassion."

 

"But if he returns no more this winter, my choice will never be

required. A thousand things may arise in six months!"

 

The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the

utmost contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of

Caroline's interested wishes, and she could not for a moment

suppose that those wishes, however openly or artfully spoken,

could influence a young man so totally independent of every

one.

 

She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she

felt on the subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its

happy effect. Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was

gradually led to hope, though the diffidence of affection

sometimes overcame the hope, that Bingley would return to

Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart.

 

They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure

of the family, without being alarmed on the score of the

gentleman's conduct; but even this partial communication gave

her a great deal of concern, and she bewailed it as exceedingly

unlucky that the ladies should happen to go away, just as they

were all getting so intimate together. After lamenting it

however at some length, she had the consolation of thinking

that Mr. Bingley would be soon down again and soon dining at

Longbourn, and the conclusion of all was the comfortable

declaration that, though he had been invited only to a family

dinner, she would take care to have two full courses.

 

__

 

<CHAPTER XXII (22)>

 

THE Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and again

during the chief of the day, was Miss Lucas so kind as to

listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of

thanking her. "It keeps him in good humour," said she, "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. This

was very amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther

than Elizabeth had any conception of; -- its object was nothing

less than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins's

addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss

Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so favourable that when

they parted at night, she would have felt almost sure of

success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon.

But here, she did injustice to the fire and independence of his

character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the

next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge

to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the

notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him

depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he

was not willing to have the attempt known till its success

could be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and

with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he

was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday.

His reception however was of the most flattering kind. Miss

Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards

the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in

the lane. But little had she dared to hope that so much love

and eloquence awaited her there.

 

In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow,

every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction of

both; and as they entered the house, he earnestly entreated her

to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and

though such a solicitation must be waved for the present, the

lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness. The

stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his

courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its

continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the

pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not

how soon that establishment were gained.

 

Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their

consent; and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity.

Mr. Collins's present circumstances made it a most eligible

match for their daughter, to whom they could give little

fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were exceedingly

fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate with more

interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many

years longer Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William

gave it as his decided opinion that whenever Mr. Collins should

be in possession of the Longbourn estate, it would be highly

expedient that both he and his wife should make their

appearance at St. James's. The whole family, in short, were

properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed

hopes of _coming_ _out_ a year or two sooner than they might