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Chapter XXIII

Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters,

reflecting on what she had heard, and doubting

whether she was authorised to mention it, when Sir

William Lucas himself appeared, sent by his daughter to

announce her engagement to the family. With many com-

pliments to them, and much self-gratulation on the prospect

of a connection between the houses, he unfolded the matter,

-- to an audience not merely wondering, but incredulous; for

Mrs. Bennet, with more perseverance than politeness, pro-

tested he must be entirely mistaken; and Lydia, always un-

guarded and often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed,--

'Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story?

Do you not know that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?'

Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could

have borne without anger such treatment: but Sir William's

good-breeding carried him through it all; and though he

begged leave to be positive as to the truth of his information,

he listened to all their impertinence with the most forbearing

courtesy.

Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from

so unpleasant a situation, now put herself forward to confirm

his account, by mentioning her prior knowledge of it from

Charlotte herself; and endeavoured to put a stop to the ex-

clamations of her mother and sisters, by the earnestness of

her congratulations to Sir William, in which she was readily

joined by Jane, and by making a variety of remarks on the

happiness that might be expected from the match, the ex-

cellent character of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance

of Hunsford from London.

Mrs. Bennet was, in fact, too much overpowered to say a

great deal while Sir William remained; but no sooner had

he left them than her feelings found a rapid vent. In the

first place, she persisted in disbelieving the whole of the

matter; secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had

been taken in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never

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