Chapter 22

The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases and again during the chief of the day was Miss Lucas
so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. “It keeps him in good humour,” said
she, “and I am more obliged to you than I can express.” Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful,
and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte’s kindness
extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; its object was nothing else than to secure her from any return of
Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas’s scheme; and appearances were so
favourable, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost secure of success if he had not been to leave
Hertfordshire so very soon. But here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to
escape out of Longbourn House the morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her
feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not
fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise;
for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively
diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. His reception, however, was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas perceived
him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But
little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there.

In as short a time as Mr. Collins’s long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction
of both; and as they entered the house he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of
men; and though such a solicitation must be waived for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his
happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a
woman wish for its continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an
establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained.

But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there
 

Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent; and it was bestowed with a most joyful
alacrity. Mr. Collins’s present circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter, to whom they could give
little fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were exceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate, with
more interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir
William gave it as his decided opinion, that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of the Longbourn estate, it
would be highly expedient that both he and his wife should make their appearance at St. James’s. The whole family, in
short, were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two
sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte’s dying an
old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her
reflections were in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was
irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her husband. Without thinking highly either
of men or matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only provision for well-educated young women of
small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This
preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the
good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business was the surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet,
whose friendship she valued beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, and probably would blame her; and
though her resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings must be hurt by such a disapprobation. She resolved to give her
the information herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins, when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of
what had passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be
kept without difficulty; for the curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth in such very direct questions on his
return as required some ingenuity to evade, and he was at the same time exercising great self-denial, for he was longing
to publish his prosperous love.

As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the family, the ceremony of leave-taking was
performed when the ladies moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, said how happy they
should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever his engagements might allow him to visit them.

“My dear madam,” he replied, “this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to
receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible.”

They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said:

“But is there not danger of Lady Catherine’s disapprobation here, my good sir? You had better neglect your relations
than run the risk of offending your patroness.”

“My dear sir,” replied Mr. Collins,” I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution, and you may depend
upon my not taking so material a step without her ladyship’s concurrence.”

“You cannot be too much upon your guard. Risk anything rather than her displeasure; and if you find it likely to be
raised by your coming to us again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied that
we shall take no offence.”

“Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will
speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, and for every other mark of your regard during my stay in
Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take
the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin Elizabeth.”

With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equally surprised that he meditated a quick return. Mrs.
Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her younger girls, and Mary might
have been prevailed on to accept him. She rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was a solidity in
his reflections which often struck her, and though by no means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to
read and improve himself by such an example as hers, he might become a very agreeable companion. But on the following
morning, every hope of this kind was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a private conference with
Elizabeth related the event of the day before.

The possibility of Mr. Collins’s fancying herself in love with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the
last day or two; but that Charlotte could encourage him seemed almost as far from possibility as she could encourage him
herself, and her astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and she could not
help crying out:

“Engaged to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte — impossible!”

The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on
receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained her composure, and calmly
replied:

“Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any
woman’s good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?”

But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure with tolerable
firmness that the prospect of their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her all imaginable
happiness.

“I see what you are feeling,” replied Charlotte. “You must be surprised, very much surprised — so lately as Mr.
Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I
have done. I am not romantic, you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s
character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most
people can boast on entering the marriage state.”

Elizabeth quietly answered “Undoubtedly;” and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family.
Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. It was a long time
before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins’s making two
offers of marriage within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She had always felt that
Charlotte’s opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she had not supposed it to be possible that, when
called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr.
Collins was a most humiliating picture! And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added
the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.