Chapter 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 else 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 secure 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 might 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, everything 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
waived 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 otherwise have done; and the boys were
relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte's dying an old maid.
Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had gained her point,
and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were in general
satisfactory. Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible nor
agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must
be imaginary. But still he would be her husband. Without thinking
highly either of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her
object; it was the only provision for well-educated young women of
small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be
their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative she had
now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever
been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it. The least
agreeable circumstance in the business was the surprise it must
occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued beyond
that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, and probably
would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be shaken,
her feelings must be hurt by such a disapprobation. She resolved to
give her the information herself, and therefore charged Mr.
Collins, when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint
of what had passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy
was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept
without difficulty; for the curiosity excited by his long absence
burst forth in such very direct questions on his return as required
some ingenuity to evade, and he was at the same time exercising
great self-denial, for he was longing to publish his prosperous
love.
As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any
of the family, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the
ladies moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness
and cordiality, said how happy they should be to see him at
Longbourn again, whenever his engagements might allow him to visit
them. "My dear madam," he replied, "this invitation is particularly
gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and
you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as
possible." They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by
no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said: "But is
there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, my good
sir? You had better neglect your relations than run the risk of
offending your patroness." "My dear sir," replied Mr. Collins," I
am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution, and you
may depend upon my not taking so material a step without her
ladyship's concurrence." "You cannot be too much upon your guard.
Risk anything rather than her displeasure; and if you find it
likely to be raised by your coming to us again, which I should
think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied
that WE shall take no offence." "Believe me, my dear sir, my
gratitude is warmly excited, by such affectionate attention; and
depend upon it, you will speedily receive from me a letter of
thanks for this, and for every other mark of your regard during my
stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though my absence
may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the
liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my
cousin Elizabeth." With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew;
all of them equally surprised that he meditated a quick return.
Mrs. Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of paying
his addresses to one of her younger girls, and Mary might have been
prevailed on to accept him. She rated his abilities much higher
than any of the others; there was a solidity in his reflections
which often struck her, and though by no means so clever as
herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself
by such an example as hers, he might become a very agreeable
companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this kind
was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a
private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day
before. The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying herself in love
with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day
or two; but that Charlotte could encourage him seemed almost as far
from possibility as she could encourage him herself, and her
astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the
bounds of decorum, and she could not help crying out: "Engaged to
Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte— impossible!" The steady countenance
which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to a
momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though,
as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained her
composure, and calmly replied: "Why should you be surprised, my
dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be
able to procure any woman's good opinion, because he was not so
happy as to succeed with you?" But Elizabeth had now recollected
herself, and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure with
tolerable firmness that the prospect of their relationship was
highly grateful to her, and that she wished her all imaginable
happiness. "I see what you are feeling," replied Charlotte. "You
must be surprised, very much surprised— so lately as Mr. Collins
was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it
over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not
romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and
considering Mr. Collins's character, connection, and situation in
life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as
fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state."
Elizabeth quietly answered "Undoubtedly"; and after an awkward
pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not
stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what
she had heard. It was a long time before she became at all
reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of
Mr. Collins's making two offers of marriage within three days was
nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She had always
felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her
own, but she had not supposed it to be possible that, when called
into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to
worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a most
humiliating picture! And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself
and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that
it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot
she had chosen.