Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 21

The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end,

and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings

necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish

allusions of her mother. As for the gentleman himself, _his_

feelings were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or

dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of manner

and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her, and the

assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of himself

were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose

civility in listening to him was a seasonable relief to them all,

and especially to her friend.

The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill-humour

or ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry

pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might shorten his

visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by it.

He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he meant

to stay.

After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton to inquire if Mr.

Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence from

the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the town,

and attended them to their aunt's where his regret and vexation,

and the concern of everybody, was well talked over. To

Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the

necessity of his absence _had_ been self-imposed.

"I found," said he, "as the time drew near that I had better not

meet Mr. Darcy; that to be in the same room, the same party

with him for so many hours together, might be more than I could

bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than

myself."

She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a

full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they

civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer

walked back with them to Longbourn, and during the walk he

particularly attended to her. His accompanying them was a

double advantage; she felt all the compliment it offered to

herself, and it was most acceptable as an occasion of introducing

him to her father and mother.

Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet;

it came from Netherfield. The envelope contained a sheet of

elegant, little, hot-pressed paper, well covered with a lady's fair,

flowing hand; and Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change

as she read it, and saw her dwelling intently on some particular