PRIDE & PREJUDICE: JANE AUSTEN: CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"I hope, my dear," said Mr Bennet to his wife, as they were at breakfast next morning, "that you you have ordered a good dinner today, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party."

"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, except Charlotte Lucas should happen to call - and I hope my dinners are good enough for her.  I do not believe she often sees such at home."

"The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger."

Mrs Bennet's eyes sparkled.  "A gentleman and a stranger!" It is Mr Bingley, I am sure!  Well I am sure I am extremely extremely happy to see Mr Bingley.  But - good lord! How unlucky!  There is not a bit of fish to be got today.  Lydia, my love, ring the bell - I must speak to Hills this moment."

"It is not Mr Bingley," said her husband, "It is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life."

This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and daughters.  After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained:

About a month ago I received this letter, and a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention.  It is from my cousin, Mr Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases."

"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that.  Please do not talk about him.  It is the hardest thing in this world.  That your estate should be entailed away from your children.  If I had been you I should have tried long ago to do something about it."

Jane and Elizabeth had tried to explain her the nature of entail.  The had often attempted to do it before. But it is a subject beyond the reach of her reason, and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from the family of five daughters, in favour of a man, whom nobody cared anything about.

"It is certainly a most iniquitous affair," said Mr Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr Collins from the guilt of inhering Longbourn.  But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be little softened, by his manner of expressing himself."

"No, I shall not.  And I think it is very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical.  I hate such false friends.  Why could he not keep quarreling with you, as his father did before him?"

"Why, indeed; he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head as you will hear."

Hunsford, Kent, 15th October.
Dear sir, 
The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late father always gave me much uneasiness, and I have wished to heal the breach. I am fortunate to be ordained on Easter Sunday. I feel it my duty to promote the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence.  The circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch.  I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg to leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends - but of this hereafter.  If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on and your family, on Monday, November eighteenth, by four o'clock, and shall trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday following.

I remain, dear Sir, with respectful compliments to your Lady and daughters.

Your well-wisher and friend, William Collians.

"At four o'clock we may expect this peace making gentleman," said Mr Bennet, as he folded up the letter.
"He seems to be a conscientious and polite young man, and will prove a valuable acquaintance," he continued.

"There is some sense in what he says about the girls," said Mrs Bennet, "and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him."

"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."

"He must be an oddity, I think," said Elizabeth, "I cannot make him out. And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in entail? We cannot suppose he would help it if he could."

"No, my dear, I think not. I have great hope of finding him the reverse, said Mr Bennet.

Mary was interested in the composition and style of the letter. To Catherine and Lydia, the letter and its writer seemed least interesting.  As for Mrs Bennet, the letter had done away much of her ill-will and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure.

Mr Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr Bennet indeed said very little, but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, not inclined to be silent himself.  He was a tall heavy looking young man of five and twenty.  His air was grave and stately, and his manners were formal.  He had not been long seated before he complimented 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 truth, and added that, he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time disposed of in marriage. 

"You are very kind," said Mrs Bennet, "and I wish with all my heart it may prove so, or else they will be destitute enough.  Things are settled so oddly."

"You allude, perhaps, to the entai of this estate."

"Ah! sir, I do indeed.  It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess.  Not that I mean to find fault with you.  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 conscious of appearing forward and precipitate.  But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them.  At present I will not say more. But, perhaps, when we are better acquainted --" 

He was interrupted by a summons to dinner, and the girls smiled on each other. Mr Collins examined everything including the hall, the dining room and all its furniture, and his praise would have touched Mrs Bennet's heart, but her suspicion of his viewing as his own property.  The dinner too was much admired and he begged to know which of his fair cousins owned the excellence of cooking.  But he was set right that they were very well able to cook but they had nothing to do in the kitchen for the present occasion.  In a softened tone she assumed all the responsibility connected with cooking.

THE END 






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