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Chapter XXI

The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end,

and Elizabeth had only to surfer from the uncomfortable feelings

necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish

allusion of her mother. As for the gentleman himself, his feelings

were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or dejection, or

by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of manner and resentful

silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her, and the assiduous atten^

tions which he had been so sensible of himself were transferred

for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose civility in listening

to him, was a seasonable relief to them all, and especially to

her friend.

The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennei's ill

humour or ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state

of angry pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might

shorten his visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected

by it. He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday

he still meant to stay.

After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton to inquire if

Mr. Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence

from the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the

town and attended them to their aunt's, where his regret and

vexation, and the concern of every body, was well talked ever. --

To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the

necessity of his absence bad been self-imposed.

'I found,' said he, 'as the time drew near, that I had better not

meet Mr. Darcy; -- that to be in the same room, the same party

with him for so many hours together, might be more than I could

bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself.'

She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for

a full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they

civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer

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