Pride and Prejudice — Chapter Twenty-Two

The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and again during the chief of the day was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins.

Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her; and Charlotte led her to hope that it would be rewarded by his asking her to dance with him at the next ball; but Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; its object was nothing less than securing her from any return of Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards herself.

Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had she intended to go so far for her success; for he was coming to Lucas Lodge on purpose to offer himself to her, as a match for the disappointment he had sustained at Longbourn.

His reception was of the most flattering kind; Miss Lucas’s blue eyes were as expressive as they could be, and though her features were not regular, she had a pleasant countenance. In a very short time, Mr. Collins made his formal proposal, which was accepted with great alacrity by the lady, and they were soon joined by Sir William and Lady Lucas, to whom the suitor made his declaration, and received their hearty consent.

Sir William’s thoughts were immediately occupied by the prospect of his daughter’s future grandeur at Hunsford, and Lady Lucas began to calculate how many years Mr. Bennet would be likely to live. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, caring little for the man, and nothing for his society. Marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want.

She was twenty-seven, and had never been handsome; she felt all the good luck of her situation. The only drawback was the surprise it would occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, and she would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings were hurt by the prospect.

She determined to be herself the informant, and therefore requested Mr. Collins, when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to keep the secret for that evening, which he readily promised. He was to go away the next morning, and he took leave of his cousins at Longbourn with great solemnity, thanking them for their kindness, and promising to return very soon.

Lady Lucas arrived soon after breakfast to break the news to Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth, who was sitting with her mother, was completely astonished; but Mrs. Bennet’s indignation was far beyond anything Elizabeth could feel. She could not, she would not believe it; it was a gross falsehood, an invention to impose upon her. She scolded her daughter, she abused Lady Lucas, and was so completely overwhelmed by vexation and anger, that it was several hours before she could speak to them with any degree of civility.

It was a long time before Elizabeth could accept the truth of it herself. That Charlotte Lucas, who had always appeared to possess a good deal of sound sense, should throw herself away upon a man like Mr. Collins, was a matter of astonishment which she could scarcely overcome. She felt deeply for her friend, and felt that, by such a marriage, Charlotte must compromise her independence and lessen her estimation in the world.