Volume I, Chapter XXII

CHAPTER XXII

The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and again during the chief of the day, was Charles Lucas so kind as to listen to Miss Collins. Edward took an opportunity of thanking him. 'It keeps her in good humour,' said he, 'and I am more obliged to you than I can express.' Charles assured his friend of his satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid him for the little sacrifice of his time. This was very amiable, but Charles's kindness extended farther than Edward had any conception of;—its object was nothing else, than to secure him from any return of Miss Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards himself. Such was Mr. Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so favourable that they led him to escape out of Lucas Lodge the next morning and hasten to Longbourn House to solicit her hand. He was anxious to avoid the notice of the Bennets, for he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success might be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Miss Collins had been tolerably encouraging, he was made diffident by his friend's adventure of Wednesday. His reception however was of the most flattering kind. Miss Collins perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him in the lane. But little had Mr. Lucas dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited him there.

In as short a time as Miss Collins's long speeches would allow, every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they returned to Lucas Lodge, she earnestly entreated him to name the day that was to make her the happiest of women; and though such a solicitation must be waived for the present, the gentleman felt no inclination to trifle with her happiness. The stupidity with which she was favoured by nature, must guard her courtship from any charm that could make a man wish for its continuance; and Charles Lucas, who sought marriage with her solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained.

Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily informed of the happy news; and it was received with alacrity. Miss Collins's present circumstances made it an eligible match for their son, to whom they could give little fortune; and the profession of physician to which he was intended made his prospects, to any future wife, exceedingly fair. The whole family were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of their elder brother's never marrying. Charles himself was tolerably composed. He had gained his point, and had time to consider of it. His reflections were in general satisfactory. Miss Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; her society was irksome, and her attachment to him must be imaginary, as his was to her. But still she would be his wife.—Without thinking highly either of women or matrimony, marriage had always been his object; it was the only provision for well-educated young men of small fortune, as much as it was for women; particularly for those of the proclivity he and his friend shared­; and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative he had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-five, without having ever been particularly handsome, he felt all the good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business, was the surprise it must occasion to Edward Bennet, whose intimacy he valued beyond that of any other person. Edward would wonder, and probably would blame him; and though his resolution was not to be shaken, his feelings must be hurt by such disapprobation. He resolved to give him the information himself, and therefore charged Miss Collins, when she returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; for the curiosity excited by her long absence, burst forth in such very direct questions on her return as required some ingenuity to evade, and she was at the same time exercising great self-denial, for she was longing to publish her prosperous love.

As she was to begin her journey too early on the morrow to see any body, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the family moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet,with great politeness and cordiality said how happy they should be to see her at Longbourn again, whenever her engagements might allow her to visit them.

'My dear Madam,' she replied, 'this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible.'

They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said,

'But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, Madam?—You had better neglect your relations, than run the risk of offending your patroness.'

'My dear sir,' replied Miss Collins, 'I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking so material a step without her ladyship's concurrence.'

'You cannot be too much upon your guard. Risk any thing rather than her displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied that we shall take no offence.'

'Believe me, my dear cousin, my gratitude is warmly excited by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, and for every other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my cousins, though my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin Edward.'

With proper civilities the family then withdrew; all of them equally surprised to find that she meditated a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wished to understand by it that she thought of bringing her brother with her to pay his addresses to one of her younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him. She rated the abilities of a clergyman much higher than any of the others; and there was a solidity in Miss Collins's reflections which often struck her, and though by no means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve herself by such an example as her's, she might become a very agreeable companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this kind was done away. Charles Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a private conference with Edward related the event of the day before.

The possibility of Miss Collins's fancying herself in love with his friend had once occurred to Edward within the last day or two; but that Charles could encourage her, seemed almost as far from possibility as that he could encourage her himself, and his astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and he could not help crying out,

'Engaged to Miss Collins! My dear Charles,—impossible!'

The steady countenance which Charles Lucas had commanded in telling his story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than he expected, he soon regained his composure, and calmly replied,

'Why should you be surprised, Edward?—Do you think it incredible that Miss Collins should be able to procure any man's good opinion, because she was not so happy as to succeed with you?'

But Edward had now recollected himself, and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure with tolerable firmness that the prospect of their relationship was highly grateful to him, and that he wished him all imaginable happiness.

'I see what you are feeling,' replied Charles,—'you must be surprised, very much surprised,—so lately as Miss Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic you know; I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Miss Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with her, is as fair as with any woman, and as great as most people can boast on entering the marriage state, who are disinclined to do so.'

Edward quietly answered 'Undoubtedly;'—and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charles did not stay much longer, and Edward was then left to reflect on what he had heard. It was a long time before he became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Miss Collins's having one proposal of marriage declined only to receive another within three days, was nothing in comparison of its being made at all. He had always felt that Charles's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like his own, but he had not supposed it to be possible that when called into action, he would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charles Lucas the future husband of Augusta Collins, was a most humiliating picture!—And to the pang of a friend disgracing himself and sunk in his esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot he had chosen.