{{prxprp056.jpg}} || 56 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to

see him.'

'In point of composition,' said Mary, 'his letter does not seem

defective. The idea of the olive-'branch perhaps is not wholly

new, yet I think it is well expressed.'

To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were

in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their

cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some

weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man

in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter

had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to

see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband

and daughters.

Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with

great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said

little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins

seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be

silent himself. He was a tall, heavyvlooking young man of

five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners

were very formal. He had not been long seated before he conv

plimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters;

said he had heard much of their beauty, but that in this instance

fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not

doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage.

This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers,

but Mrs. Bennet, who quarrelled with no compliments, answered

most readily,

'You are very kind, sir, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart

it may prove so; for else they will be destitute enough. Things

are settled so oddly.'

'You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate.'

'Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls,

you must confess. Not that 1 mean to find fault with you, for

such things I know are all chance in this world. There is no

knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed.'

'I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins,

-- and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of

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