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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。
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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。
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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
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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
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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。’
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CHAPTER XXI