Page 22

The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach, but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.

My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence have preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England.

As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, 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 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 you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o’clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se’nnight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day.

I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,

William Collins

“Your father wished to withhold the letter until tomorrow, in order to amuse himself at your mother’s expense,” said Mrs. Ellington to Elizabeth, later when they were alone.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “But he is to arrive tomorrow!”

“Indeed. I was glad to have happened upon him speaking with Hill about the clergyman’s coming, or else I fear he would have had his way. A jest at the right time is harmless enough, but your mother is likely to have nerves enough over the visit. She does not need to be set rushing about at the last minute, imagining half a dozen calamities that might arise from being unprepared.”

Elizabeth, although fond of her father and his wit, could not but allow the justice of the observation. It would have been cruel for her father to withhold such information until the last moment.

“Mr. Collins must be an oddity,” she said, turning from the more delicate subject of her parents’ dispositions. “I cannot make him out. His style is pompous, and I do not comprehend his apologies for the entail. I cannot imagine he would help it if he could.”

“Perhaps not,” said Mrs. Ellington, “and perhaps he means only to reassure your family by his coming. It would speak very well of him if he wished to put minds at ease.”

The next day, therefore, passed slowly as they awaited Mr. Collins’s arrival. He was punctual to his time, arriving at exactly four o’clock. All in the family received him politely. Mr. Bennet indeed said little, but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself.

Mr. Collins was a tall, portly man of five-and-twenty, with hair already thinning. His clothing was what one might suppose for a young clergyman, but his air was very grave and his manners stiff and 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 the truth, and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers; but Mrs. Bennet, who quarrelled with no compliments, answered most readily.

“You are very kind, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so, for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly.”

“You allude, perhaps, to the entail 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, for such things I know are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed.”

Mrs. Ellington interjected gently, “Indeed, it is a comfort to know the estate will be in such conscientious hands, though I trust it will be many years yet before Mr. Bennet’s health gives us cause for concern.”

No further response could be made, for a servant arrived to announce dinner.

∞∞∞

Mrs. Ellington, having known more than one man of Mr. Collins’s particular stamp, had at first allowed his pronouncements to wash over her. But a comment made between the soup and the fish—something of his patroness’s opinion on the duties of a clergyman’s wife—brought her up short. The drone of his voice suddenly became pointed, and she found she was attending to his every word with a rising sense of dismay.

The next morning, happening upon Mr. Collins alone in the breakfast parlour, she determined such an opportunity for private conversation was not to be wasted and resolved to gently probe his intentions.

“I understand, Mr. Collins, from your conversation last evening, that you wish soon to marry.”

“Yes, Mrs. Ellington, you interpret my intentions properly. As a clergyman, I find it right and proper to set the moral example for my parish. My patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, also was so generous as to remind me that a married clergyman is seen as more stable and respectable than a single one, and I should not wish to appear anything less than upstanding when serving her ladyship.”

“Those are interesting reasons for marriage,” said Mrs. Ellington. “If Lady Catherine’s opinion is to guide you, I suppose she would wish for you to have a wife of good sense and propriety—one who enjoys improving conversation and is welcome in respectable homes. The Lucases, for example, are a most agreeable family.”

“Lady Catherine’s opinion is of the utmost importance, and you are right to suggest that she would wish for me to look for such estimable qualities in a wife. Why, she herself declared that it was right for me to make atonement for the entail by selecting a bride from among my cousins.”

“That is very good of you, Mr. Collins, to consider their future. It would be most helpful if your wife were on good terms with your cousins if they are to remain in residence after Mr. Bennet is gone. But for now, perhaps, it might be pleasant to come to know those who will someday be your neighbours. Miss Mary, I believe, visits the Lucases quite often, as do the two younger girls. Perhaps you might walk with them one afternoon and be introduced to Sir William and his family.”

“That is most sensible, Mrs. Ellington,” agreed Mr. Collins. “Mrs. Bennet, though, had suggested Miss Elizabeth. I would so dislike to have raised a young lady’s hopes only to direct my attentions elsewhere.”

“Dear Mr. Collins,” she said, “Miss Elizabeth is not yet awake and therefore cannot have had her hopes raised at all by a matter of which she has no knowledge. Furthermore, Miss Elizabeth, while having many wonderful qualities, is not the sort to be content with the life of a clergyman’s wife. No, it will be much better if you go to Lucas Lodge and are introduced.”

Upon such sensible reasoning, the gentleman was decided; and by the time everyone in the house had breakfasted, a plan had been made to go into Meryton and, upon their return, to call at Lucas Lodge.