第34章

'You must give me leave to flatter myself，my dear cousin，that your refusal of my addresses is merely words of course. My reasonsfor 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 refusals as flattering encouragement，to apply to her father，whosenegative 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.

XX

M r. 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.Iftherefore 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.