indignation

my proposals will not fail of being acceptable

hitherto

you puzzle me exceedingly

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.

You forget that I have made no answer

It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now.

“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 that it will add very greatly to my happiness; and thirdly—which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier, that it is the particular advice 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 footstool, that she said, ‘Mr. Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. Choose properly, choose 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 anything 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 towards Longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood, where I can 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 choose 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 violence of 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 four 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.”

“Oh dear!—yes—certainly. I am sure Lizzy will be very happy—I am sure she can have no objection. Come, Kitty, I want you up stairs.”

May I hope, madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the course of this morning

Mr. Collins made his declaration in form

she had the mortification of seeing Mary

Elizabeth angrily

endeavouring

“And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?” “I hope not.”

(glancing at her sister and Bingley)

You think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly

To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate

er mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage was extremely agreeable to her

Mr. Collins’s proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could

The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended less on any single event

He cannot know what Mr. Darcy is

I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me pain to speak ill of a Darcy

amiable

filial

I have a warm, unguarded temper

He deserves to be publicly disgraced

The church ought to have been my profession

i

it is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy

He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire

censure

the latter

But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill

four-and-twenty

I consider myself as quite fixed here

Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield

solaced

A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved.

abominable sort of conceited independence

countenance

indolent

restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her original dislike

it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley

carriage

If I wished to think slightingly of anybody’s children

matrimony

satirical eye

if she does not help him on

superciliousness