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Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature

of an entail. They had often attempted it before: but it was

a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of

reason; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty

of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in

favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.

'It certainly is a most iniquitous affair,' said Mr. Bennet;

'and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inherit-

ing Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may,

perhaps, be a little softened by his manner of expressing

himself.'

'No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it was very

impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypo-

critical. I hate such false friends. Why could not he keep

on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him?'

'Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples

on that head, as you will hear:--'

> Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October.

>

> 'Dear Sir -- The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my

> late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness; and, since I

> have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to

> heal the breach: but, for some time, I was kept back by my own

> doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for

> me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always

> pleased him to be at variance.' -- "There, Mrs. Bennet." -- 'My mind,

> however, is now made up on the subject; for, having received ordina-

> tion at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by

> the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh,

> widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has

> preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall

> be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect

> towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and

> ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a

> clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the

> blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence;

> and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of

> goodwill are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my

> being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly over-

> looked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive

> branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means

> of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for

> it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every

> possible amends; but of this hereafter. If you should have no ob-

> jection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfac-

> tion of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by

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