The long-expected examination of Mr. Collins’s attention to Elizabeth had been fulfilled, and the expectations of all the Bennet family, except for the lady herself, were to be disappointed. She was unacquainted with the motives which had drawn him to Netherfield, and was therefore at a loss to understand his attention to Miss Bingley. His addresses, however, were certainly to her. He had spoken to her, and to her only, since the ball; and though he had not seen her for a fortnight, it was but the other day that he had visited her.
“I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love,” said she. “Go to, you shall not escape me. You are to be at Netherfield all the spring. I have told you so. When you have finished your letter, you may amuse yourself as you please.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I am very sensible of your kindness; and though I am very fond of seeing you, I am very sensible of the honour you do me by your visits. But as I am not accustomed to live in London, I can not expect to be as well received as those who have been used to it.”
“My dear Miss Bennet, I am not of opinion that you ought to be in want of a husband. I have always given your mother my opinion, and she told me to have you. You are to be married to me. I am very sure that I am not of opinion that you ought to be in want of a husband.”
Elizabeth, with a more serious air than she was accustomed to give, said, “I am not aware of any such expectation, as I am not accustomed to think myself in want of a husband. My own happiness is very important to me; and I am sure that it is not in my power to make any man happy.”
“My dear Miss Bennet,” replied he, “I am not of opinion that you ought to be in want of a husband. I have always given your mother my opinion, and she told me to have you. You are to be married to me. I am very sure that I am not of opinion that you ought to be in want of a husband.”
“I am sensible of the honour of your proposals,” said Elizabeth. “But I do not think it is in my power to accept them. I have no wish of marrying at all; and still less of marrying a man whom I do not love.”
Mr. Collins, however, was not to be discouraged. He continued to talk of his attachment, and to express his admiration of her in such terms, as persuaded Elizabeth that he was not only an amiable man, but that he was also very deeply in love with her. His assurances of his regard were indeed so earnest, so devoted, that she was compelled to allow herself to be persuaded. She could not help being persuaded that he was the sort of man whom her father would most approve.
Elizabeth thanked him for his intentions, but assured him that she could not accept his proposal. His reply was in the usual strain of his addresses, and in her reply she acknowledged the honour of his attentions, but assured him that she could not accept his proposal. His temper had been exceedingly hurt by her refusal, and though he had not the vanity to suppose himself that he was in love with her, he was convinced that he ought to be married, and that his wife ought to be a person of very considerable fortune.
It was the wish of his patroness that he should marry one of the Bennet sisters, and it was his own wish to marry, and his own wish to marry well. He had, therefore, been very ready to accept the invitation of his patroness, and to pay his addresses to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She had been his choice from the beginning, and though he was not quite so well pleased with her as he had expected to be, he was still very ready to marry her.