Pride and Prejudice — Chapter Twenty-Three (Abridged)

Elizabeth was still sitting with her mother and sisters, turning over what she had just heard, when Sir William Lucas himself arrived — sent by Charlotte to announce her engagement to the family. With many compliments and expressions of satisfaction at the connection between the two households, he delivered his news to an audience that received it with disbelief rather than joy. Mrs. Bennet insisted he must be mistaken, and Lydia blurted out that Mr. Collins had wanted to marry Lizzy. Sir William bore all their rudeness with the patient courtesy of a man long practiced in the art of tolerating others.

Elizabeth stepped forward to help him, confirming that she had known of the engagement from Charlotte herself, and doing her best to calm her mother and sisters with cheerful remarks about the match. But once Sir William had gone, Mrs. Bennet's feelings burst out in full force. She refused to believe it, then declared Mr. Collins had been tricked, then hoped the match would be broken off, and then settled firmly on two conclusions: that Elizabeth was entirely to blame, and that she herself had been treated most cruelly. A week passed before she could look at Elizabeth without scolding her, and many months before she could forgive Charlotte at all.

Mr. Bennet, by contrast, was quietly amused. He remarked that it gratified him to discover Charlotte Lucas, whom he had always thought tolerably sensible, was just as foolish as his wife — and more foolish than his daughter. Jane, as ever, said little of her surprise and much of her good wishes. Kitty and Lydia were indifferent; Mr. Collins was only a clergyman, after all. Lady Lucas, for her part, visited Longbourn more often than usual to share her happiness, which did nothing to improve Mrs. Bennet's temper.

Between Elizabeth and Charlotte, a new restraint had settled. Elizabeth felt certain that true confidence between them could never be restored. She turned instead with deeper affection to Jane, whose goodness and integrity she trusted entirely — and whose happiness was now giving her real anxiety, for Bingley had been gone a week with no word of his return.

Rumours soon spread through Meryton that Mr. Bingley would not return to Netherfield for the whole winter. Mrs. Bennet declared it a scandalous lie. But even Elizabeth began to fear — not that his feelings for Jane had died, but that his sisters and Mr. Darcy might succeed in keeping him away. The pleasures of London and the company of Miss Darcy could prove stronger, she worried, than the strength of his attachment.

Jane said nothing of her anxiety to Elizabeth, but Mrs. Bennet had no such restraint. She spoke of Bingley constantly, complained of his absence loudly, and pressed Jane again and again to admit she would feel herself very ill-used if he did not return. It required all of Jane's quiet steadiness to bear it without losing her composure.

Mr. Collins returned as promised, but the family was too preoccupied with their own troubles to pay him much attention. He spent most of each day at Lucas Lodge, which suited everyone well enough. Mrs. Bennet, however, found a new source of misery in the sight of Charlotte. She had convinced herself that Charlotte already looked upon Longbourn as her future home, and was only waiting for Mr. Bennet to die before turning them all out. She complained bitterly to her husband.

"I cannot bear to think that Charlotte Lucas should ever be mistress of this house," she said.

"My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts," said Mr. Bennet. "Let us hope for better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor."

It was not very consoling, and Mrs. Bennet went on exactly as before.