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occasions； I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as
possible。’
Mr。 Bennet’s expectations were fully answered。 His cousin was
as absurd as he had hoped； and he listened to him with the keenest
enjoyment； maintaining at the same time the most resolute
composure of countenance； and except in an occasional glance at
Elizabeth； requiring no partner in his pleasure。
By tea…time however the dose had been enough； and Mr。 Bennet
was glad to take his guest into the drawing…room again； and when
tea was over； glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies。 Mr。
Collins readily assented； and a book was produced； but on
beholding it； （for every thing announced it to be from a circulating
library；） he started back； and begging pardon； protested that he
never read novels。—Kitty stared at him； and Lydia exclaimed。—
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Other books were produced； and after some deliberation he chose
Fordyce’s Sermons。 Lydia gaped as he opened the volume； and
before he had； with very monotonous solemnity； read three pages；
she interrupted him with；
‘Do you know； mama； that my uncle Philips talks of turning
away Richard； and if he does； Colonel Forster will hire him。 My
aunt told me so herself on Saturday。 I shall walk to Meryton to…
morrow to hear more about it； and to ask when Mr。 Denny comes
back from town。’
Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue； but
Mr。 Collins； much offended； laid aside his book； and said；
‘I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by
books of a serious stamp； though written solely for their benefit。 It
amazes me； I confess；—for certainly； there can be nothing so
advantageous to them as instruction。 But I will no longer
importune my young cousin。’
Then turning to Mr。 Bennet； he offered himself as his antagonist
at backgammon。 Mr。 Bennet accepted the challenge； observing
that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling
amusements。 Mrs。 Bennet and her daughters apologised most
civilly for Lydia’s interruption； and promised that it should not
occur again； if he would resume his book； but Mr。 Collins； after
assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill will； and should
never resent her behaviour as any affront； seated himself at
another table with Mr。 Bennet； and prepared for backgammon。
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CHAPTER XV
r。 Collins was not a sensible man； and the deficiency of
nature had been but little assisted by education or
M
society； the greatest part of his life having been spent
under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father； and though
he belonged to one of the universities； he had merely kept the
necessary terms； without forming at it any useful acquaintance。
The subjection in which his father had brought him up； had given
him originally great humility of manner； but it was now a good
deal counteracted by the self…conceit of a weak head； living in
retirement； and the consequential feelings of early and
unexpected prosperity。 A fortunate chance had recommended him
to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was
vacant； and the respect which he felt for her high rank； and his
veneration for her as his patroness； mingling with a very good
opinion of himself； of his authority as a clergyman； and his rights
as a rector； made him altogether a mixture of pride and
obsequiousness； self…importance and humility。
Having now a good house and very sufficient income； he
intended to marry； and in seeking a reconciliation with the
Longbourn family he had a wife in view； as he meant to chuse one
of the daughters； if he found them as handsome and amiable as
they were represented by common report。 This was his plan of
amends—of atonement—for inheriting their father’s estate； and he
thought it an excellent one； full of eligibility and suitableness； and
excessively generous and disinterested on his own part。
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His plan did not vary on seeing them。—Miss Bennet’s lovely
face confirmed his views； and established all his strictest notions of
what was due to seniority； and for the first evening she was his
settled choice。 The next morning； however； made an alteration； for
in a quarter of an hour’s tête…à…tête with Mrs。 Bennet before
breakfast； a conversation beginning with his parsonage…house； and
leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes； that a mistress for it
might be found at Longbourn； produced from her； amid very
complaisant smiles and general encouragement； a caution against
the very Jane he had fixed on。—‘As to her younger daughters she
could not take upon her to say—she could not positively answer—
but she did not know of any prepossession；—her eldest daughter；
she must just mention—she felt it incumbent on her to hint； was
likely to be very soon engaged。’
Mr。 Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth—and it
was soon done—done while Mrs。 Bennet was stirring the fire。
Elizabeth； equally next to Jane in birth and beauty； succeeded her
of course。
Mrs。 Bennet treasured up the hint； and trusted that she might
soon have two daughters married； and the man whom she could
not bear to speak of the day before； was now high in her good
graces。
Lydia’s intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten； every
sister except Mary agreed to go with her； and Mr。 Collins was to
attend them； at the request of Mr。 Bennet； who was most anxious
to get rid of him； and have his library to himself； for thither Mr。
Collins had followed him after breakfast； and there he would
continue； nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the
collection； but really talking to Mr。 Bennet； with little cessation； of
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his house and garden at Hunsford。 Such doings discomposed Mr。
Bennet exceedingly。 In his library he had been always sure of
leisure and tranquillity； and though prepared； as he told Elizabeth；
to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house； he
was used to be free from them there； his civility； therefore； was
most prompt in inviting Mr。 Collins to join his daughters in their
walk； and Mr。 Collins； being in fact much better fitted for a walker
than a reader； was extremely well pleased to close his large book；
and go。
In pompous nothings on his side； and civil assents on that of his
cousins； their time passed till they entered Meryton。 The attention
of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him。 Their
eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the
officers； and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed； or a
really new muslin in a shop window； could recall them。
But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man；
whom they had never seen before； of most gentlemanlike
appearance； walking with an officer on the other side of the way。
The officer was the very Mr。 Denny； concerning whose return from