Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 15 The First Meeting with Wickham
Mr. Collins is not a reasonable person. Although he has been educated and stepped into the society, his congenital defects have basically not been compensated.He spends most of his days under the tutelage of his shallow and exceptionally miserly father.He also went to college, but in fact he only stayed for a few semesters as usual, and he didn't make a close friend.His father was very strict with him, so he was very humble.He was already a bit stupid, and now that he lived a leisurely life, of course he couldn't help being conceited. What's more, he had made a windfall at a young age, and he regarded himself even more highly. He couldn't even talk about humility.There was a vacancy in Hunsford at that time, and he had the good fortune to be promoted by Lady Catherine de Bourgh.On the one hand, seeing the high status of his patroness, he worships and respects him wholeheartedly; The dual character of humility and obedience.

He now has a nice house, a decent income and wants to get married.The main reason why he wanted to make peace with the Langburn family was to find a wife for himself in their family.If the young ladies of the family were as beautiful and lovely as they had been rumored to be, he must choose one.This is his so-called compensation plan, atonement plan, so that they can have a clear conscience when they inherit their father's inheritance in the future.He thought it was a very good and unique way, which was both extremely appropriate and generous.

After he saw these ladies, his original plan did not change.The sight of Jane's lovely face fixed his mind, and confirmed his old-fashioned notions of marrying the oldest lady first as a matter of course.He fell in love with her on the first night.He changed his mind the next morning, however, because he had an intimate quarter of an hour with Mrs. Bennet.

At first he spoke of his own vicarage, and then, naturally, he spoke of his desire to find a lady at Longbourne, and that he intended to find one among her daughters.Mrs. Bennet smiled kindly, and encouraged him; but when he mentioned that she had chosen Jane, she consciously called it to his attention.

"As far as my younger daughters are concerned, I have nothing to say--certainly I can't say yes--but I haven't heard that they have any objects; as to my older daughters, I have to mention--I think Duty to remind you - the eldest daughter may be engaged soon."

Mr. Collins was obliged to put Jane aside and choose Elizabeth instead, and he chose at once--at the very instant Mrs. Bennet poked the fire.Elizabeth is only slightly inferior to Jane in terms of age and beauty. Of course, it will be her turn to be the second.

Mrs. Bennet got this hint, and she believed that she would soon be able to marry two daughters.The person she didn't even want to mention yesterday had aroused her great attention now.

Lydia had been talking of going to Meryton, and the idea had not yet been dismissed from her.All the sisters, except Mary, were willing to go with her; and Mr. Bennet, wishing to drive Mr. Collins away, so that he might spend some time in his study, begged him to go with them.But after Mr. Collins had breakfast, he followed him to the study, and stayed there until then, not wanting to leave. He was nominally reading the largest book in his collection, but in fact he was chatting with Mr. Bennet. Talked of his own Hunsford house and gardens, and Mr. Bennet got very upset.Usually, he stays in the study just to try to be leisurely and clean.He had once told Elizabeth that he would have received foolish and conceited fellows in any room, but never in the study.He therefore hastened and reverently begged Mr. Collins to accompany his daughters for a walk.Mr. Collins was only fit to be a walker, not a reader, so he closed his book very happily and went away.

He talked nonsense all the way, and his cousins ​​had to politely echo him, and thus passed the time to Meryton.As soon as the younger cousins ​​got there, they stopped paying attention to him.Their eyes are turned at once to the street, to see if officers are passing; and they are attracted only by the most beautiful bonnets in the shop windows, or the latest flowered cloths.

It was not long before the ladies noticed a young man.They have never seen that person.He was walking down the street with an officer, looking like a real gentleman.This officer was Mr. Denny, and Lydia was about to inquire whether he had returned from London.

He bowed to them as they passed by.Everyone was a little dazed when they saw the handsome stranger, but they didn't know who he was.Kitty and Lydia decided to try to find out, and led the way across the street, under the pretense of going to the store opposite.

Coincidentally, just as they were on the sidewalk, the two men turned around and walked to that spot.Danny greeted them at once, and begged them to let him introduce them to his friend, Mr. Wickham.He said that Wickham had returned from town with him the day before, and was very glad to say that Wickham had been appointed officer in their regiment.It was wonderful indeed, because Wickham, a young man, would be perfect in a uniform.His demeanor was indeed pleasing.There is no part of him that is not good-looking, with delicate features, a burly figure, and a very touching conversation.Once introduced, he began to talk cheerfully and earnestly--earnestly, with great dignity, and with measure.

While they were standing there talking very congenially, they heard the clatter of horses' hooves, and Darcy and Bingley came riding down the street.When the two new gentlemen saw the ladies in the crowd, they hurried up to them and exchanged greetings as usual.It was Bingley who took the lead in speaking, and addressed the bulk of his speech to Miss Bennet, whom he said he was on his way to Longburn to visit.Darcy proved that he was not lying, and bowed at the same time.Darcy's gaze had just moved away from Elizabeth when he suddenly saw the stranger.The two of them looked at each other in blank dismay, pale with shock.Elizabeth felt very strange when she saw this occasion of encounter.The faces of both of them changed, one was pale, the other was red. After a while, Mr. Wickham pressed his hat, and Mr. Darcy reluctantly returned the salute.What does it mean?It is impossible to imagine, but also makes people want to inquire about it.After a while, Mr. Bingley bade them good-bye in a nonchalant manner, and rode off with his friend.

Mr. Danny and Mr. Wickham accompanied the young ladies to Philip's door, and Miss Lydia strongly invited them in, and even Mrs. Philip opened the window and loudly helped her to invite them in. , they bowed and left.

Mrs. Philips always liked to see her nieces and aunts, and the eldest two, who had not been seen often of late, were especially welcome.She earnestly stated that she was very surprised at the sudden return of the sisters, and had not chanced to meet in the street the young man in Dr. Jones's drugstore who told her she would have thought the two Miss Bennetts had not returned. At home, this is because their family did not send a carriage to pick them up.While they were thus chatting, Jane introduced Mr. Collins to her, and she was obliged to exchange some pleasantries with him, which she welcomed with great civility; He came to her house rashly and said that he was still very happy.Since the young ladies who had introduced him were somewhat related to him, it made sense for him to take the liberty of coming here.Mrs. Philips was flattered by this extravagant courtesy.

While she was carefully measuring this strange guest, the little sisters made a fuss about another strange guest, asking her questions, and she had to answer their questions.However, what she can tell her aunts and nieces is nothing more than what they already know.She said that Mr. Denny had just brought the stranger from London, and that he was going to be a lieutenant in some county, and that she had seen him walking up and down the street for a whole hour.If Mr. Wickham passed by at this time, Katie and Lydia must have continued to look at him; but unfortunately no one passed the window at present, except a few officers, and these officers and Mr. Wickham has become some "stupid and annoying fellows" by comparison.Some officers are coming to Philip's for dinner tomorrow.Mrs. Philips said that if the family could come from Longburn to-morrow evening, she would send her husband to call on Mr. Wickham and ask him to come.Everyone agrees.Mrs. Philip added that they would have a lively and interesting game of lottery tickets tomorrow, and then they would have dinner together after the game.

Thinking of tomorrow's joy makes people excited, so everyone is happy when they part.After Mr. Collins came out, he thanked him again and again, and his master politely asked him not to be too polite.

On their way home Elizabeth related to Jane the scene which had just been witnessed between the two gentlemen.If there had been any enmity between the two of them, Jane would have defended either of them, or both, though she was as utterly ignorant of the matter as her sister.

Mrs. Bennet was very pleased when Mr. Collins came back, and spoke highly of Mrs. Philip's hospitality.Collins said he had never seen a finer woman in his life than Lady Catherine and her daughter, and though he was a stranger to her she was so polite to him that she even asked him to dine with her on the morrow.This, he thought, was in some measure due to his kinship with them.But it was the first time in his life that he had encountered such hospitality.

(End of this chapter)