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Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane

and Elizabeth.

'Ay, there she comes,' continued Mrs. Bennet, 'looking as

unconcerned as may be, and caring no more for us than if we

were at York, provided she can have her own way. But I

tell you what. Miss Lizzy, if you take it into your head

to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, you

will never get a husband at all -- and I am sure I do not

know who is to maintain you when your father is dead. I

shall not be able to keep you -- and so _I_ warn you. I have

done with you from this very day. I told you in the library,

you know, that I should never speak to you again, and you

will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in

talking to undutiful children. Not that I have much pleasure,

indeed, in talking to anybody. People who suffer as I do

from nervous complaints can have no great inclination for

talking. Nobody can tell what I suffer! But it is always

so. Those who do not complain are never pitied.'

Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible

that any attempt to reason with or soothe her would only

increase the irritation. She talked on, therefore, without

interruption from any of them till they were joined by Mr.

Collins, who entered with an air more stately than usual,

and on perceiving whom, she said to the girls,--

'Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold your

tongues, and let Mr. Collins and me have a little conversa-

tion together.'

Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty

followed, but Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all

she could; and Charlotte, detained first by the civility of Mr.

Collins, whose inquiries after herself and all her family were

very minute, and then by a little curiosity, satisfied herself

with walking to the window and pretending not to hear.

In a doleful voice Mrs. Bennet thus began the projected con-

versation: -- 'Oh, Mr. Collins.'

'My dear madam,' replied he, 'let us be for ever silent on

this point. Far be it from me,' he presently continued, in a

voice that marked his displeasure, 'to resent the behaviour of

your daughter. Resignation to inevitable evils is the duty of

us all: the peculiar duty of a young man who has been so

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