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partner she had scarcely replied before Mr. Collins came up

to them, and told her with great exultation that he had just

been so fortunate as to make a most important discovery.

'I have found out,' said he, 'by a singular accident, that

there is now in the room a near relation to my patroness. I

happened to overhear the gentleman himself mentioning to

the young lady who does the honours of this house the names

of his cousin Miss de Bourgh, and of her mother Lady

Catherine. How wonderfully these sort of things occur!

Who would have thought of my meeting with -- perhaps -- a

nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh in this assembly! I

am most thankful that the discovery is made in time for me

to pay my respects to him, which I am now going to do, and

trust he will excuse my not having done it before. My total

ignorance of the connection must plead my apology.'

'You are not going to introduce yourself to Mr. Darcy?'

'Indeed I am. I shall entreat his pardon for not having

done it earlier. I believe him to be Lady Catherine's _nephew._

It will be in my power to assure him that her Ladyship was

quite well yesterday se'nnight.'

Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme;

assuring him that Mr. Darcy would consider his addressing

him without introduction as an impertinent freedom, rather

than a compliment to his aunt; that it was not in the least

necessary there should be any notice on either side, and

that if it were, it must belong to Mr. Darcy, the superior in

consequence, to begin the acquaintance. Mr. Collins listened

to her with the determined air of following his own inclina-

tion, and when she ceased speaking, replied thus,--

'My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in

the world of your excellent judgment in all matters within the

scope of your understanding, but permit me to say that there

must be a wide difference between the established forms of

ceremony amongst the laity and those which regulate the

clergy; for, give me leave to observe that I consider the

clerical office as equal in point of dignity with the highest

rank in the kingdom -- provided that a proper humility of be-

haviour is at the same time maintained. You must, therefore,

allow me to follow the dictates of my conscience on this occa-

sion, which leads me to perform what I look on as a point of

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