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'Yes, _that_ is what makes it amusing. Had they fixed on

any other man it would have been nothing; but _his_ perfect

indifference and _your_ pointed dislike make it so delightfully

absurd! Much as I abominate writing, I would not give up

Mr. Collins's correspondence for any consideration. Nay,

when I read a letter of his, I cannot help giving him the

preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impu-

dence and hypocrisy of my son-in-law. And pray, Lizzy,

what said Lady Catherine about this report? Did she call to

refuse her consent?'

To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh;

and as it had been asked without the least suspicion, she was

not distressed by his repeating it. Elizabeth had never been

more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were

not. It was necessary to laugh when she would rather have

cried. Her father had most cruelly mortified her by what he

said of Mr. Darcy's indifference; and she could do nothing

but wonder at such a want of penetration, or fear that, per-

haps, instead of his seeing too _little,_ she might have fancied

too _much._

 [488]