{{prxprp093.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 93 ||

moment's consideration making her also sensible that it would

be wisest to get it over as soon and as quietly as possible, she sat

down again, and tried to conceal by incessant employment the

feelings which were divided between distress and diversion.

Mrs. Bennet and Kitty walked off, and as soon as they were

gone Mr. Collins began.

'Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that your modesty, so far

from doing you any disservice, rather adds to your other per'

fections. You would have been less amiable in my eyes had

there not been this little unwillingness; but allow me to assure

you that I have your respected mother's permission for this

address. You can hardly doubt the purport of my discourse,

however your natural delicacy may lead you to dissemble; my

attentions have been too marked to be mistaken. Almost as

soon as I entered the house, I singled you out as the companion

of my future life. But before I am run away with by my feelings

on this subject, perhaps it would be advisable for me to state my

reasons for marrying -- and moreover for coming into Hertford'

shire with the design of selecting a wife, as I certainly did.'

The idea of Mr. Collins, with all his solemn composure, being

run away with by his feelings, made Elizabeth so near laughing

that she could not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt

to stop him farther, and he continued:

'My reasons for marrying are, first, that I think it a right thing

for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself) to set the

example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly, that I am con-*

vinced it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly --

which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the

particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady

whom I have the honour of calling patroness. Twice has she

condescended to give me her opinion (unasked too!) on this

subject; and it was but the very Saturday night before I left

Hunsford -- between our pools at quadrille, while Mrs. Jenkinson

was arranging Miss de Bourgh's footstool, that she said,

"Mr. Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must

marry. -- Chuse properly, chuse a gentlewoman for my sake; and

for your own, let her be an active, useful sort of person, not brought

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