第33章

'My reasons for marrying are，first，that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances（like myself）to set the example of matrimony in his parish. Secondly，that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness；and thirdly—which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier，that it is the particularadvice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness.Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion（unasked too！）on this subject；and it was but the very Saturday night before I left Hunsford—between our pools at quadrille，while Mrs.Jenkinson was arranging Miss de Bourgh's foot-stool，that she said，“Mr.Collins，you must marry.A clergyman like you must marry.—Chuse properly，chuse a gentlewoman for my sake；and for your own，let her be an active，useful sort of person，not brought up high，but able to make a small income go a good way.This is my advice.Find such a woman as soon as you can，bring her to Hunsford，and I will visit her.”Allow me，by the way，to observe，my fair cousin，that I do not reckon the notice and kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as among the least of the advantages in my power to offer.You will find her manners beyond any thing I can describe；and your wit and vivacity I think must be acceptable to her，especially when tempered with the silence and respect which her rank will inevitably excite.Thus much for my general intention in favour of matrimony；it remains to be told why my views were directed to Longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood，where I assure you there are many amiable young women.But the fact is，that being，as I am，to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father，（who，however，may live many years longer，）I could not satisfy myself without resolving to chuse a wife from among his daughters，that the loss to them might be as little as possible，when the melancholy event takes place—which，however，as I have already said，may not be for several years.This has been my motive，my fair cousin，and I flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem.And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violenceof my affection.To fortune I am perfectly indifferent，and shall make no demand of that nature on your father，since I am well aware that it could not be complied with；and that one thousand pounds in the 4 per cents.which will not be yours till after your mother's decease，is all that you may ever be entitled to.On that head，therefore，I shall be uniformly silent；and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married.'

It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now.

'You are too hasty，Sir，'she cried.'You forget that I have made no answer. Let me do it without farther loss of time.Accept my thanks for the compliment you are paying me.I am very sensible of the honour of your proposals，but it is impossible for me to do otherwise than decline them.'

'I am not now to learn，'replied Mr. Collins，with a formal wave of the hand，'that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept，when he first applies for their favour；and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time.I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said，and shall hope to lead you to the altar ere long.'

'Upon my word，Sir，'cried Elizabeth，'your hope is rather an extraordinary one after my declaration. I do assure you that I am not one of those young ladies（if such young ladies there are）who are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being asked a second time.I am perfectly serious in my refusal.—You could not make me happy，and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who would make you so.—Nay，were your friend Lady Catherine to know me，I am persuaded she would findme in every respect ill qualified for the situation.

'Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so，'said Mr. Collins very gravely—'but I cannot imagine that her ladyship would at all disapprove of you.And you may be certain that when I have the honour of seeing her again I shall speak in the highest terms of your modesty，economy，and other amiable qualifications.'

'Indeed，Mr. Collins，all praise of me will be unnecessary.You must give me leave to judge for myself，and pay me the compliment of believing what I say.I wish you very happy and very rich，and by refusing your hand，do all in my power to prevent your being otherwise.In making me the offer，you must have satisfied the delicacy of your feelings with regard to my family，and may take possession of Longbourn estate whenever it falls，without any self-reproach.This matter may be considered，therefore，as finally settled.'And rising as she thus spoke，she would have quitted the room，had not Mr.Collins thus addressed her，

'When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this subject I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you have now given me；though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at present，because I know it to be the established custom of your sex to reject a man on the first application，and perhaps you have even now said as much to encourage my suit as would be consistent with the true delicacy of the female character.'

'Really，Mr. Collins，'cried Elizabeth with some warmth，'you puzzle me exceedingly.If what I have hitherto said can appear to you in the form of encouragement，I know not how to express my refusal in such a way as may convince you of its being one.'