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that I am not one of those young ladies (if such young ladies

there are) who are so daring as to risk their happiness on the

chance of being asked a second time. I am perfectly serious

in my refusal. You could not make _me_ happy, and I am

convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would

make _you_ so. Nay, were your friend Lady Catherine to know

me, I am persuaded she would find me in every respect ill

qualified for the situation.'

'Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so,' said

Mr. Collins, very gravely -- 'but I cannot imagine that her

Ladyship would at all disapprove of you. And you may be

certain that when I have the honour of seeing her again I

shall speak in the highest terms of your modesty, economy,

and other amiable qualifications.'

'Indeed, Mr. Collins, all praise of me will be unnecessary.

You must give me leave to judge for myself, and pay me the

compliment of believing what I say. I wish you very happy

and very rich, and by refusing your hand, do all in my power

to prevent your being otherwise. In making me the offer,

you must have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings with

regard to my family, and may take possession of Longbourn

estate whenever it falls, without any self-reproach. This

matter may be considered, therefore, as finally settled.' And

rising as she thus spoke, she would have quitted the room,

had not Mr. Collins thus addressed her,--

'When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on

the subject, I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer

than you have now given me; though I am far from accusing

you of cruelty at present, because I know it to be the es-

tablished custom of your sex to reject a man on the first

application, and, perhaps, you have even now said as much

to encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true

delicacy of the female character.'

'Really, Mr. Collins,' cried Elizabeth, with some warmth,

'you puzzle me exceedingly. If what I have hitherto said

can appear to you in the form of encouragement, I know

not how to express my refusal in such a way as may con-

vince you of its being one.'

'You must give me leave to flatter myself, my dear cousin,

that your refusal of my addresses are merely words of course.

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