Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 17

Mr. Collins is not a reasonable person, and his natural defects have not been improved by education and social interaction; most of his 20 years of career have been spent under the upbringing of a miserly and illiterate father he had attended a college, but he had lived there only for the necessary semesters as a matter of routine, and had not made a single useful acquaintance.His submissiveness under his father's roof had given him an almost natural humility, but this humiliation now greatly counterbalanced him, partly from a mental retardation. Conceit, on the other hand, comes from the arrogance and arrogance caused by his unexpected wealth at a young age.A lucky chance had brought him to see Lady Catherine de Bourgh, at a time when there was a vacant vicarage at Hunsford; Combined with his self-righteousness, the idea of ​​his authority as a priest and the power of a presiding priest, he completely became a proud and obscene, self-important and condescending. people.

Now that he had a decent house and ample income, he planned to start a family; he made peace with the Longbourn family in order to find a wife there, if he found Longbourne like The daughters were as pretty and lovely as they said, and he would have chosen one of them.This was his scheme of atonement—or atonement—for the future inheritance of their father's estate; he thought it a perfect scheme, both practicable and appropriate, and a display of extraordinary talent on his part. Generosity and selflessness.

His plans hadn't changed when he saw them. ——Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his opinion, and he thought that everything should come from the older ones first, so she became his chosen one the night after he came.On the next morning, however, the plan had to be altered; and it turned out that before breakfast he had had an intimate quarter of an hour's conversation with Mrs. Bennet, which had begun at his vicarage and proceeded naturally. Mrs. Bennet put a smile of satisfaction and encouragement on his wish to have a mistress for his house at Longbourn, except that she gave a little advice when he mentioned Jane— As for her younger daughters, although she could not make decisions for them--couldn't give a positive answer--but she knew that they had no partners yet; as for her eldest daughter, she must talk--she thought It was her duty to remind him that she was likely to be engaged soon.

Mr. Collins had to change his love from Jane to Elizabeth--which was decided in an instant--at the moment Mrs. Bennet stabbed the fire.Elizabeth is close to Jane in age and beauty, and of course she is the best candidate to replace Jane.

Mrs. Bennet was delighted by this hint, and was convinced that she would soon be able to marry off her two daughters; and Mr. Collins, whom she could not bear to hear the name the day before, was now at once her guest.

Lydia did not forget her intention of going to Meryton; all the sisters, except Mary, agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins, at the suggestion of Mr. Bennet, who was desperate to get out of this Cousin, that I may be alone in the study; for Mr. Collins has been there with him since breakfast, nominally to read one of the largest folios, but in reality to babble with Mr. Bennet about his house and garden.This was too much for Mr. Bennet.In his study he had always found recreation and quiet; he had told Elizabeth that, though he had been prepared for folly and self-importance in any other room, this was his sanctuary; He presently, therefore, courteously asked Mr. Collins to go out with his daughters; and Mr. Collins, who was really more fitted to be a walker than a reader, closed the tome with great pleasure. The book left.

He prattled along the way, and his cousins ​​politely echoed him, and they passed the time till they reached Meryton.Several young cousins ​​stopped paying attention to him at that time.They cast their eyes about the street, looking for the officers, and only a splendid bonnet in a shop window, or the latest calico, could distract them a little.

Soon, the girls' attention was attracted by a young man who they had never seen before, who looked very gentlemanly, and was walking on the other side of the road with an officer at the moment.The officer was Mr. Denny, and Lydia had come to inquire whether he had returned from London, and he bowed to them as they passed.The sisters were all moved by the handsomeness of the stranger, and they all wanted to know who he was. Kitty and Lydia made up their minds to find out as much as possible. After crossing the street, just as they came to the sidewalk, they both turned around and came here.Mr. Denney spoke to them at once, and asked permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned from town with him yesterday, and he could add with pleasure that this gentleman Has been commissioned as an officer in their regiment.It couldn't have been better; for the young man would be very charming and perfect with only a military uniform to match.

His appearance is very pleasing, he has a handsome face, a tall and well-proportioned figure, and his conversation is particularly moving. There is almost no defect in his whole body.After the mutual introductions were over, his side took the initiative and gaiety to talk first--an initiative that seemed perfectly decent and unaffected; It was Darcy and Bingley, who caught their attention, riding down the street.After recognizing these girls, the two of them rode straight towards them and began to greet them politely.Bingley is the chief speaker, and Miss Bennet to whom he speaks.He said he was going to see her at Longbourn, and Mr. Darcy nodded in agreement, making up his mind not to see Elizabeth, when his eyes rested on the stranger, who was in Elizabeth's place. When they looked at each other, they happened to see the faces of these two men, and they couldn't help being surprised by their unnatural expressions.Both faces changed color, one turned white and the other turned red.After a while, Mr. Wickham moved his hat in a gesture of respect, which Mr. Darcy only reluctantly returned.What the hell is going on here? —It is impossible to imagine why; it is impossible not to desire to know.

After a while, Mr. Bingley and his friend said good-bye to them, and rode on, seeming not to have seen what had just happened.

Mr. Denney and Mr. Wickham went with the young girls to Mr. Philip's door, and bowed their leave, though Lydia begged them both to come in, and even Mrs. Philip opened the drawing-room. from the window, and invited them loudly from the window, but they went away.

Mrs. Phillips was always glad to see her nieces and nieces, and the two older ones, who had been absent for some time, were very welcome, and she said she was very fond of them both from Netherfield. She was very surprised when she came back suddenly and didn't wait for the family carriage to pick her up. If she hadn't happened to meet the clerk of Dr. Jones' pharmacy in the street and told her that the ladies of the Bennet family had gone home, she would use it again. There was no need to deliver medicines to Netherfield, and she did not know they were back, for at this time Jane introduced Mr. Collins to her, and Mrs. Philip's greetings returned to him.She welcomed her very politely, and he returned it even more politely, saying that she came to bother her without knowing each other beforehand, and she was very sorry. Brother and sister, and they introduced him.

Mrs. Phillips was taken aback by such a grand ceremony, and while she was scrutinizing this stranger, the girls started asking about another stranger. She was busy answering her nieces and nieces again, but what she could tell them was not much different from what they already knew. Mr. Denny had just brought him back from London, and he was going to The county held the rank of a lieutenant.And that she had just been watching him here for an hour, as he walked up and down the street; and if Mr. Wickham appeared in the road again at this moment, Kitty and Lydia would surely be here too. Yes, it's a pity that there are only a few officers passing by the window now, and they suddenly look "stupid and annoying" compared with the stranger.Several officers were to dine with Phillips to-morrow, and their aunt promised her husband to call on Mr. Wickham and extend an invitation to him.This was agreed upon, and Mrs. Philip added that they would be given a lively and amusing lottery game, followed by a hot supper.It was a delight to think of such a merry-go-round, and all parted joyfully.Mr. Collins thanked him again and again as he went out, and the host did not tire of replying that he would not be too polite.

On their way home Elizabeth related to Jane the scene between Darcy and Wickham; What she defended at the same time was that she, like her sister, was not at all clear about this matter.

Mr. Collins, on his return, spoke to Mrs. Bennet's satisfaction of Mrs. Philip's manners.He said he had never seen a more elegant woman than Mrs Philip, save Lady Catherine and her daughter; for she not only received him with great courtesy, but even made a special mention of asking him to come, too, to-morrow evening. Dinner, even though he was a stranger to her.He thought that all this might be due to the marriage between him and his daughters. Even so, it was the first time in his life that he was treated like this.

(End of this chapter)