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profess myself one of those who consider intervals of recre-

ation and amusement as desirable for everybody.'

Elizabeth's spirits were so high on the occasion, that

though she did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins,

she could not help asking him whether he intended to accept

Mr. Bingley's invitation, and if he did, whether he would

think it proper to join in the evening's amusement; and she

was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple

whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a

rebuke, either from the Archbishop or Lady Catherine de

Bourgh, by venturing to dance.

'I am by no means of opinion, I assure you,' said he, 'that

a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, to

respectable people, can have any evil tendency; and I am

so far from objecting to dancing myself, that I shall hope to

be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the

course of the evening; and I take this opportunity of solicit-

ing yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially;

a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to

the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her.'

Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully

proposed being engaged by Wickham for those very

dances; and to have Mr. Collins instead! -- her liveliness had

been never worse timed. There was no help for it, however.

Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own was perforce delayed

a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as

good a grace as she could. She was not the better pleased

with his gallantry, from the idea it suggested of something

more. It now first struck her that _she_ was selected from

among her sisters as worthy of being the mistress of Huns-

ford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table

at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea

soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing

civilities towards herself, and heard his frequent attempt at

a compliment on her wit and vivacity; and though more as-

tonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms,

it was not long before her mother gave her to understand

that the probability of their marriage was exceedingly agree-

able to _her._ Elizabeth, however, did not choose to take the

hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the con-

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