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him; but these violent young lovers carry everything their

own way. I shall offer to pay him to-morrow, he will rant

and storm about his love for you, and there will be an end

of the matter.'

He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before

on his reading Mr. Collins's letter; and after laughing at her

some time, allowed her at last to go, saying, as she quitted

the room, 'If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send

them in, for I am quite at leisure.'

Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy

weight; and, after half an hour's quiet reflection in her own

room, she was able to join the others with tolerable com-

posure. Everything was too recent for gaiety, but the eve-

ning passed tranquilly away; there was no longer anything

material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and famili-

arity would come in time.

When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night,

she followed her, and made the important communication.

Its effect was most extraordinary; for, on first hearing it,

Mrs. Bennet sat quite still, and unable to utter a syllable.

Nor was it under many, many minutes, that she could com-

prehend what she heard, though not in general backward

to credit what was for the advantage of her family, or that

came in the shape of a lover to any of them. She began

at length to recover, to fidget about in her chair, get up,

sit down again, wonder, and bless herself.

'Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me!

Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it? And is it really

true? Oh, my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you

will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you

will have! Jane's is nothing to it -- nothing at all. I am so

pleased -- so happy. Such a charming man! so handsome!

so tall! Oh, my dear Lizzy! pray apologise for my having

disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it.

Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Everything that is

charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a

year! Oh, Lord! what will become of me? I shall go dis-

tracted.'

This was enough to prove that her approbation need not

be doubted; and Elizabeth, rejoicing that such an effusion

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