Austen Said:

It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now.

she cried.

replied Mr. Collins, with a formal wave of the hand,

cried Elizabeth,

said Mr. Collins very gravely —

And rising as she thus spoke, she would have quitted the room, had Mr. Collins not thus addressed her:

cried Elizabeth with some warmth,

cried he, with an air of awkward gallantry;

To such perseverance in wilful self-deception

Elizabeth

would make no reply, and immediately and in silence withdrew;

determined, that

Mr. Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his successful love; for

Mrs. Bennet,

having dawdled about in the vestibule to watch for the end of the conference, no sooner saw Elizabeth open the door and with quick step pass her towards the staircase, than she entered the breakfast-room, and

congratulated both him and herself in warm terms

Mr. Collins

received and returned these felicitations with equal pleasure, and then proceeded

to relate

the particulars of their interview,

This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; she would have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to encourage him by protesting against his proposals, but she dared not to believe it, and could not help saying so.

she added,

cried Mr. Collins;

said Mrs. Bennet, alarmed.

She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to her husband, called out as she entered the library,

Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by her communication.

said he, when she had finished her speech.

Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the library.

cried her father as she appeared.

Elizabeth replied that

Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning, but Mrs. Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the affair as she wished, was excessively disappointed.

replied her husband,

Not yet, however, in spite of her disappointment in her husband, did Mrs. Bennet give up the point. She talked to Elizabeth again and again; coaxed and threatened her by turns. She endeavoured to secure Jane in her interest; but Jane, with all possible mildness, declined interfering; and Elizabeth, sometimes with real earnestness, and sometimes with playful gaiety, replied to her attacks. Though her manner varied, however, her determination never did.

Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had passed. He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motives his cousin could refuse him; and though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other way. His regard for her was quite imaginary; and the possibility of her deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret.

While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas came to spend the day with them.

She was

met in the vestibule by Lydia, who, flying to her, cried in a half whisper,

Charlotte hardly had time to answer, before they were joined by Kitty, who came to tell the same news; and no sooner had they entered the breakfast-room, where

Mrs. Bennet

was alone, than she likewise began on the subject, calling on Miss Lucas for her compassion, and

entreating her

she added in a melancholy tone,

Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and Elizabeth.

continued Mrs. Bennet,

Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible that any attempt to reason with her or soothe her would only increase the irritation. She talked on, therefore, without interruption from any of them, till they were joined by Mr. Collins, who entered the room with an air more stately than usual, and on perceiving whom, she said to the girls,

Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty followed, but Lydia stood her ground, determined

to hear all she could; and Charlotte, detained first by the civility of Mr. Collins, whose inquiries after herself and all her family were very minute, and then by a little curiosity, satisfied herself with walking to the window and pretending not to hear. In a doleful voice Mrs. Bennet thus began the projected conversation:

—

replied he,

he presently continued, in a voice that marked his displeasure,