PRIDE & PREJUDICE: JANE AUSTEN: CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Elizabeth was sitting with his mother and sisters, reflecting on what she had heard, and doubting whether she was authorised to mention it, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared, sent by his daughter to announce her engagement.  With many compliments to them, and much self-congratulation on the prospect of a connection between the houses he unfolded the matter to the family.  Mrs Bennet wondering at the intelligence protested, Lucas must be 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?"

Mr William's good breeding carried him through it, and begged them to be positive as to the information. It was now incumbent on Elizabeth to relieve him from so unpleasant a situation.  She put herself forward to confirm his account, and congratulated him. Jane followed her to congratulate him.

Mrs Bennet 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 repaid vent.  In the first place she persisted in disbelieving the whole episode; secondly she was very sure that Mr Collins had been taken in; thirdly she was very sure that they would never be happy together; and fourthly that the match might be broken off.  Two inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the whole; one, that Elizabeth was the real cause of mischief; and the other that she herself had been misused by them all; and on these two points she dwelt principally during the rest of the day.  Nothing could console and nothing could appease her.  Not did the day wear out her resenment.  A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her, a month passed away before she could speak to Sir William and Lady Lucas without being rude, and many months were gone she could at all forgive her daughter.

Mr Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion.  It gratified him to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had used to think tolerably sensible was foolish as his wife and more foolish than his daughter.

Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match; but she said less of it, and said more of her desire for the happiness of the couple.  Kitty and Lydia had no envy, for Mr Collins was only a clergy man, and it affected them in no other way than a piece of news to spread in Meryton.

Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort on Mrs Bennet of having a daughter well married; and she called at Longbourn rather often than usual to say how happy she was, though Mrs Bennet's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough to drive away.

The wall of silence fell between Elizabeth and Charlotte and she began to like more of her sister Jane.  She was anxious that Bingley had been gone a week and nothing more was heard of his return.

Jane had sent Caroline an early answer, and was counting the days for a reply.  The promised letter of thanks from Mr Collins came on Tuesday, addressed to Mr Bennet.  He wished to see them again at Longbourn from where he could enjoy the company of Miss Lucas.

But Mrs Bennet was indisposed to this scheme of Mr Collins.  Her indisposition and Bingley's absence had become a cause of distress to the sisters.

Neither Jane nor Elizabeth was comfortable on the absence of Mr Bingley.  Day after day passed without any tidings of him, except a report which shortly prevailed in Meryton that he is coming no more to the Northfield the whole winter. This report made Mrs Bennet furious and she always contradicted it as a scandal.

Elizabeth began to fear that Mr Bingley's sisters would be successful in keeping him away. The united efforts of his sisters and Mr Darcy assisted by the attractions of Miss Darcy and the amusements of London might be too much for the strength of his attachment.

For Jane, this anxiety was painful, but she concealed her feelings, and between herself and Elizabeth this subject was never alluded to.  But contrary to this, an hour seldom passed without Mrs Bennet talking about Mr Bingley.  It needed Jane's steady mildness to bear this attacks with tranquility.

Mr Collins returned punctually on Monday fortnight, but his reception at Longbourn was not quite gracious as it had been on his first introduction.  Enough of his time was spent at Lucas lodge, and he had sometimes returned to Longbourn only to make an apology for his absence before the family went to bed.

Mrs Bennet was really in a most pitiable state.  The very mention of the match threw her into an agony of ill-humour and wherever she went she was sure of hearing it talked of.

The sight of Miss Lucas was extremely unpleasant to her.  As her successor in that house, she regarded her with jealous abhorrence. 

"It is very hard to think that Charlotte Lucas should ever be the mistress of this house, and I should be forced to make way for her, and live to see her take her place in it," she would say to Mr Bennet.

"My dear, do not give to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for better things.  Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor." Mr Bennet would reply.

This was not consoling to Mrs Bennet, and therefore she went on as before.

"I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate.  If it was not for the entail, I should not mind it."

"What should you mind?"

"I should not mind anything at all."

"Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such insensibility."

"I never can be thanktful, Mr Bennet, for anything about the entail.  How anyone could have conscience to entail away an estate from one's own daughters, I cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr Collins too!  Why should he have it more than anyone else?"

"I leave to yourself to determine," said Mr Bennet.

THE END