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pect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in

mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in

quitting the room, and was assured, with unwearying civility,

that they were perfectly needless.

As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she

had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane

would have defended either or both, had they appeared to

be wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than

her sister.

Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by

admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He pro-

tested that, except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had

never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only

received him with the utmost civility, but had even pointedly

included him in her invitation for the next evening, although

utterly unknown to her before. Something, he supposed,

might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he

had never met with so much attention in the whole course

of his life.

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