............prev.....................next{{prxprp112.jpg}} || 112 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||
Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflecting on
what she had heard, and doubting whether she was authorized
to mention it, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared, sent
by his daughter to announce her engagement to the family.
With many compliments to them, and much sclf-gratulation on
the prospect of a connection between the houses, he unfolded
the matter, -- to an audience not merely wondering, but incre^
dulous; for Mrs. Bcnnct, with more perseverance than politeness,
protested he must be entirely mistaken, and Lydia, always
unguarded and often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed,
'Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story? -- Do
not you know that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?'
Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have
borne without anger such treatment; but Sir William's good
breeding carried him through it all; and though he begged leave
to be positive as to the truth of his information, he listened to all
their impertinence with the most forbearing courtesy.
Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so
unpleasant a situation, now put herself forward to confirm his
account, by mentioning her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte
herself; and endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her
mother and sisters, by the earnestness of her congratulations to
Sir William, in which she was readily joined by Jane, and by
making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be
expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins,
and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London.
Mrs. Bcnnct was in fact too much overpowered to say a great
deal while Sir William remained; but no sooner had he left
them than her feelings found a rapid vent. In the first place, she
persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter; secondly, she
was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken in; thirdly, she
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