mr.collinswasnotleftlongtothesilentcontemplationofhissuccessfullove;formrs.bennet,havingdawdledaboutinthevestibuletowatchfortheendoftheconference,nosoonersawelizabethopenthedoorandwithquicksteppasshertowardsthestaircase,thansheenteredthebreakfastroom,andcongratulatedbothhimandherselfinwarmtermsonthehappyprospectoftheirnearerconnection.mr.collinsreceivedandreturnedthesefelicitationswithequalpleasure,andthenproceededtorelatetheparticularsoftheirinterview,withtheresultofwhichhetrustedhehadeveryreasontobesatisfied,sincetherefusalwhichhiscousinhadstedfastlygivenhimwouldnaturallyflowfromherbashfulmodestyandthegenuinedelicacyofhercharacter.

thisinformation,however,startledmrs.bennet;—shewouldhavebeengladtobeequallysatisfiedthatherdaughterhadmeanttoencouragehimbyprotestingagainsthisproposals,butshedarednottobelieveit,andcouldnothelpsayingso.

"butdependuponit,mr.collins,"sheadded,"thatlizzyshallbebroughttoreason.iwillspeaktoheraboutitmyselfdirectly.sheisaveryheadstrongfoolishgirl,anddoesnotknowherowninterest;butiwillmakeherknowit."

"pardonmeforinterruptingyou,madam,"criedmr.collins;"butifsheisreallyheadstrongandfoolish,iknownotwhethershewouldaltogetherbeaverydesirablewifetoamaninmysituation,whonaturallylooksforhappinessinthemarriagestate.ifthereforesheactuallypersistsinrejectingmysuit,perhapsitwerebetternottoforceherintoacceptingme,becauseifliabletosuchdefectsoftemper,shecouldnotcontributemuchtomyfelicity."

"sir,youquitemisunderstandme,"saidmrs.bennet,alarmed."lizzyisonlyheadstronginsuchmattersasthese.ineverythingelsesheisasgoodnaturedagirlaseverlived.iwillgodirectlytomr.bennet,andweshallverysoonsettleitwithher,iamsure."

shewouldnotgivehimtimetoreply,buthurryinginstantlytoherhusband,calledoutassheenteredthelibrary,

"oh!mr.bennet,youarewantedimmediately;weareallinanuproar.youmustcomeandmakelizzymarrymr.collins,forshevowsshewillnothavehim,andifyoudonotmakehastehewillchangehismindandnothaveher."

mr.bennetraisedhiseyesfromhisbookassheentered,andfixedthemonherfacewithacalmunconcernwhichwasnotintheleastalteredbyhercommunication.

"ihavenotthepleasureofunderstandingyou,"saidhe,whenshehadfinishedherspeech."ofwhatareyoutalking?"

"ofmr.collinsandlizzy.lizzydeclaresshewillnothavemr.collins,andmr.collinsbeginstosaythathewillnothavelizzy."

"andwhatamitodoontheoccasion?—itseemsanhopelessbusiness."

"speaktolizzyaboutityourself.tellherthatyouinsistuponhermarryinghim."

"letherbecalleddown.sheshallhearmyopinion."

mrs.bennetrangthebell,andmisselizabethwassummonedtothelibrary.

"comehere,child,"criedherfatherassheappeared."ihavesentforyouonanaffairofimportance.iunderstandthatmr.collinshasmadeyouanofferofmarriage.isittrue?"elizabethrepliedthatitwas."verywell—andthisofferofmarriageyouhaverefused?"

"ihave,sir."