CHAPTER XV
Miss Collins was not a sensible woman, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of her life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and her brother, though he belonged to one of the universities, had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which her father had brought them up, had given her originally great humility of manner, but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity her brother's position excited. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank, and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his right as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility. His sister, elevated to such society, was little different.
Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, William Collins intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family, his sister had a wife in view, as she meant to chuse for him one of the daughters, if she found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was her plan of amends—of atonement—for her brother's inheriting the Bennet estate; and she thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous on her own part. That her brother sought no contact with any member of the Bennet family did not impinge upon her intent, but rather encouraged it.
Her plan did not vary on seeing them.—Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed her views, and established all her strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was her settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter of an hour's tête-à-tête with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with the parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of her hopes, that a mistress might be found for it at Longbourn, produced from her cousin, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane she had fixed on.—'As to her younger daughters she could not take upon her to say—she could not positively answer—but she did not know of any prepossession;—her eldest daughter, she must just mention—she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged.'
Miss Collins had only to change from Jane to Mary—and it was soon done—done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Mary, next to Jane in birth, if not beauty, succeeded her of course; and upon reflection, her virtuous nature and studious manner would not only recommend her to the position of a clergyman's wife, but also to the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have two daughters married; and William Collins, whom she could not bear to speak of the day before, was now high in her good graces.
Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; Edward agreed to accompany them; and Miss Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of her, and have his library to himself; for thither Miss Collins had followed him after breakfast, and there she would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of the house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Edward, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Miss Collins to join his children in their walk; and Miss Collins, being in fact better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close her large book, and go.
In pompous nothings on her side, and civil assents on that of her cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by her. Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in the shop window, could recall them.
But the attention of the whole party was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with another officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretense of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen turning back had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation—a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Edward, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Edward happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat—a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it?—It was impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know.
In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.
Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Philip's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Philips's throwing up the parlour window, and loudly seconding the invitation.
Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nephew and nieces; and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Miss Collins by Jane's introduction of her. Mrs. Philips received her with her very best politeness, which she returned with as much more, apologising for her intrusion, without any previous acquaintance with her, which she could not help flattering herself however might be justified by her relationship to the young people who introduced her to her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put to an end by exclamations and inquiries about the other; of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the —shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed the windows now except a few of the officers, who in comparison with the stranger, were become 'stupid, disagreeable fellows.' Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Miss Collins repeated her apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless.
As they walked home, Edward related to Jane what he had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be in the wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her brother.
Miss Collins on her return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. She protested that except Lady Catherine and her daughter, she had never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only been received with the utmost civility, but even pointedly included in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to the lady before. Something she supposed might be attributed to her connection with them, but yet she had never met with so much attention in the whole course of her life.
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