Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent her
behaviour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for
backgammon.
Chapter 15
Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by
education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an
illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely
kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which
his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner; but it was now
a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the
consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended
him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which
he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good
opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether
a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.
Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a
reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the
daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common
report. This was his plan of amends—of atonement—for inheriting their father's estate; and he
thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and
disinterested on his own part.
His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his views, and
established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first evening SHE
was his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter of an
hour's tete-a-tete with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his
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parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes, that a mistress might be found
for it at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general
encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. "As to her YOUNGER
daughters, she could not take upon her to say—she could not positively answer—but she did not
KNOW of any prepossession; her ELDEST daughter, she must just mention—she felt it
incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged."
Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth—and it was soon done—done while Mrs.
Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of
course.
Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have two daughters married;
and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before was now high in her good
graces.
Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go
with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most
anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed
him after breakfast; and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest
folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and
garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had
been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet
with folly and conceit in every other room of the house, he was used to be free from them there;
his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk;
and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely
pleased to close his large book, and go.
In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till
they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him.
Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less
than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them.
But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen
before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with another officer on the other side of the
way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to
inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who
he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street,
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under pretense of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the
pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny
addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who
had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a
commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only
regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had
all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The
introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation—a readiness at
the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and
talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and
Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two
gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal
spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn
on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to
determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the
stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other,
was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the
other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat—a salutation which Mr. Darcy
just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to imagine; it was
impossible not to long to know.
In another minute, Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and
rode on with his friend.
Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Phillip's house,
and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they should come in,
and even in spite of Mrs. Phillips's throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the