not rich enough or grand enough for them.'
Elizabeth spoke comfortingly to her sister, and gradually
persuaded her that Mr Bingley would return later and answer
every wish of her heart. To their mother they decided only to
announce that the Netherfield party had left for a short time.
C h a p t e r 9 Mr Collins Makes
A n o t h e r Proposal
The Bennets were invited to dinner with the Lucases, and again,
most of the time, Miss Lucas was kind enough to listen to Mr
Collins. Elizabeth thanked her warmly, and Charlotte told her
friend that she was glad to be of service to her. This was very
helpful of her, but the real reason for Charlotte's kindness was
something that Elizabeth had no idea of — a desire to attract Mr
Collins herself. When they parted later that night, Charlotte
would have felt almost certain of success if he had not been
planning to leave Longbourn. But Mr Collins, wasting no time,
escaped from the Bennets early next morning with great skill.
Miss Lucas noticed him from an upper window as he walked
towards her parents' house. She came down quickly to the
garden, and there, meeting him as if by accident, received his
proposal of marriage.
Sir William and Lady Lucas were immediately asked for their
agreement, which they willingly gave. Mr Collins's present
position made it a good marriage for their daughter, to whom
they could give little fortune, and in the future he would be Mr
Bennets heir. Charlotte was fairly well satisfied. Mr Collins was
neither sensible nor agreeable, but she, on the other hand, was
twenty-seven, and with little chance of other offers.
She decided to give the news to the Bennets herself, and
therefore asked Mr Collins to say nothing when he returned to
Longbourn, which he was leaving the next day.
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When Elizabeth was privately informed by Charlotte, her
astonishment "was so great that she could not help crying out:
'Engaged to be married to Mr Collins! My dear Charlotte,
impossible!'
'I see what you are feeling,' replied Charlotte. 'You must be
surprised, very much surprised, as Mr Collins was so recently
wanting to marry you. But I do not expect very much from
marriage, you know. I shall be satisfied with having a comfortable
home.'
Elizabeth answered quietly and, after an awkward pause, they
returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much
longer, and Elizabeth was left to think over what she had heard.
The strangeness of Mr Collins's making two offers of marriage
within three days was nothing in comparison with his being now
accepted. She would never have expected Charlotte to give up
her finer feelings to gain no more than comfort. She felt that her
friend had shamed herself, and she did not believe it possible for
her to be happy in the life she had chosen.
As for Mrs Bennet, she was astonished and shocked by the
news. A week passed before she could see Elizabeth without
scolding her, and a month before she could speak to Sir William
or Lady Lucas without being rude. Lady Lucas was not without
pleasure in being able to talk to Mrs Bennet about the comfort of
having a daughter well married, and she visited Longbourn
rather more often than usual, to say how happy she was. Between
Elizabeth and Charlotte there was an awkwardness that kept
them silent on the subject. Elizabeth felt that there could never
be any real confidence between them again, and she turned with
greater fondness to her sister Jane, for whose happiness she
became daily more anxious.
39