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> four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the

> Saturday se'nnight following, which I can do without any inconven-

> ience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional

> absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged

> to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compli-

> ments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,'

>

> William Collins

'At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peacemak-

ing gentleman,' said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter.

'He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man,

upon my word; and, I doubt not, will prove a valuable ac-

quaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indul-

gent as to let him come to us again.'

'There is some sense in what he says about the girls, how-

ever; and, if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall

not be the person to discourage him.'

'Though it is difficult,' said Jane, 'to guess in what way

he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the

wish is certainly to his credit.'

Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary defer-

ence for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christen-

ing, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were

required.

'He must be an oddity, I think,' said she. 'I cannot make

him out. There is something very pompous in his style.

And what can he mean by apologising for being next in the

entail? We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could.

Can he be a sensible man, sir?'

'No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding

him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and

self-importance in his letter which promises well. I am im-

patient to see him.'

'In point of composition,' said Mary, 'his letter does not

seem defective. The idea of the olive branch perhaps is not

wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed.'

To Catherine and Lydia neither the letter nor its writer

was in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that

their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now

some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society

of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr.

Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she

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