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Chapter XX

Mr. Collins was not left long to the silent con-

templation of his successful love; for Mrs. Bennet,

having dawdled about in the vestibule to watch for

the end of the conference, no sooner saw Elizabeth open

the door and with quick step pass her towards the stair-

case, than she entered the breakfast-room, and congratu-

lated both him and herself in warm terms on the happy

prospect of their nearer connection. Mr. Collins received

and returned these felicitations with equal pleasure, and

then proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview,

with the result of which he trusted he had every reason to

be satisfied, since the refusal which his cousin had stead-

fastly given him would naturally flow from her bashful

modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character.

This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; she

would have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter

had meant to encourage him by protesting against his pro-

posals, but she dared not to believe it, and could not help

saying so.

'But depend upon it, Mr. Collins,' she added, 'that Lizzy

shall be brought to reason. I will speak to her about it my-

self directly. She is a very headstrong, foolish girl, and

does not know her own interest; but I will _make_ her know it.'

'Pardon me for interrupting you, madam,' cried Mr. Col-

lins; 'but if she is really headstrong and foolish, I know

not whether she would altogether be a very desirable wife

to a man in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness

in the marriage state. If, therefore, she actually persists

in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her

into accepting me, because, if liable to such defects of temper,

she could not contribute much to my felicity.'

'Sir, you quite misunderstand me,' said Mrs. Bennet,

alarmed. 'Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these.

In everything else she is as good-natured a girl as ever lived.

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