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towards those to whom he owes his preferment. I cannot acquit him of that duty; nor could I think well of
the man who should omit an occasion of testifying his respect towards any body connected with the
family." And with a bow to Mr. Darcy, he concluded his speech, which had been spoken so loud as to
be heard by half the room. Many stared. Many smiled; but no one looked more amused than Mr.
Bennet himself, while his wife seriously commended Mr. Collins for having spoken so sensibly, and
observed in a half-whisper to Lady Lucas, that he was a remarkably clever, good kind of young man.
To Elizabeth it appeared, that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they
could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit, or
finer success; and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister that some of the exhibition had
escaped his notice, and that his feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he
must have witnessed. That his two sisters and Mr. Darcy, however, should have such an opportunity of
ridiculing her relations was bad enough, and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the
gentleman, or the insolent smiles of the ladies, were more intolerable.
The rest of the evening brought her little amusement. She was teazed by Mr. Collins, who continued
most perseveringly by her side, and though he could not prevail with her to dance with him again, put it
out of her power to dance with others. In vain did she entreat him to stand up with somebody else, and
offer to introduce him to any young lady in the room. He assured her that as to dancing, he was perfectly
indifferent to it; that his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to her, and that he
should therefore make a point of remaining close to her the whole evening. There was no arguing upon
such a project. She owed her greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas; who often joined them, and
good-naturedly engaged Mr. Collins's conversation to herself.
She was at least free from the offence of Mr. Darcy's farther notice; though often standing within a very
short distance of her, quite disengaged, he never came near enough to speak. She felt it to be the
probable consequence of her allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in it.
The Longbourn party were the last of the company to depart; and by a manoeuvre of Mrs. Bennet had
to wait for their carriages a quarter of an hour after every body else was gone, which gave them time to
see how heartily they were wished away by some of the family. Mrs. Hurst and her sister scarcely
opened their mouths except to complain of fatigue, and were evidently impatient to have the house to
themselves. They repulsed every attempt of Mrs. Bennet at conversation, and by so doing, threw a
languor over the whole party, which was very little relieved by the long speeches of Mr. Collins, who was
complimenting Mr. Bingley and his sisters on the elegance of their entertainment, and the hospitality and
politeness which had marked their behaviour to their guests. Darcy said nothing at all. Mr. Bennet, in
equal silence, was enjoying the scene. Mr. Bingley and Jane were standing together, a little detached
from the rest, and talked only to each other. Elizabeth preserved as steady a silence as either Mrs. Hurst
or Miss Bingley; and even Lydia was too much fatigued to utter more than the occasional exclamation of
"Lord, how tired I am!" accompanied by a violent yawn.
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When at length they arose to take leave, Mrs. Bennet was most pressingly civil in her hope of seeing the
whole family soon at Longbourn; and addressed herself particularly to Mr. Bingley, to assure him how
happy he would make them, by eating a family dinner with them at any time, without the ceremony of a
formal invitation. Bingley was all grateful pleasure, and he readily engaged for taking the earliest
opportunity of waiting on her, after his return from London, whither he was obliged to go the next day for
a short time.
Mrs. Bennet was perfectly satisfied; and quitted the house under the delightful persuasion that, allowing
for the necessary preparations of settlements, new carriages and wedding clothes, she should
undoubtedly see her daughter settled at Netherfield, in the course of three or four months. Of having
another daughter married to Mr. Collins, she thought with equal certainty, and with considerable, though
not equal, pleasure. Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children; and though the man and the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]