Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 21 Mr. Collins Proposes

The next day a new thing happened at Longburn.Mr. Collins made a formal proposal.His vacation was coming to an end on Saturday, and he decided not to waste any more time.Besides, he didn't feel any embarrassment at the time, so he proceeded to proceed in an orderly manner, and followed all the normal steps that he thought were necessary.

Just after breakfast, he saw Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth and a little sister together, so he said to the mother: "Madame, this morning I would like to ask Miss Elizabeth to do me a private talk. , do you agree?"

"Oh, very well, of course. I'm sure Lizzy would like it too, and I'm sure she'll have no objection.—Come, Katie, come upstairs with me." She gathered up her needlework, and hurried walked away.

At this moment, Elizabeth cried: "Dear mother, don't go, I beg you not to go. Mr. Collins will forgive me. He wants to talk to me, and others can listen. I will go too."

"No, no, don't you nonsense, Lizzy. I must you stay here." Seeing Elizabeth's annoyance and embarrassment, as if she was really going to run away, she said, "I must you stay here and listen to Collins. Mister can't speak."

Elizabeth was inconvenient to disobey her mother's orders.She thought about it for a while, and felt that it would be better if the matter could be settled quickly and quietly, so she sat down again, and was always careful not to show her ridiculous emotions.Mrs. Bennet and Katie walked away.

As soon as they had gone, Mr. Collins began to speak: "Indeed, Miss Elizabeth, your shyness, far from doing you any harm, has added to your natural beauty. If you don't excuse yourself a little, I won't." I will think you are so cute. However, please allow me to tell you that I have obtained the permission of the Lord Lingtang to propose to you this time. Although you are shy and hypocritical by nature, my kindness to you in every possible way, It has been so obvious that you will surely understand what I mean. Almost as soon as I entered the room, I fell in love with you as my life partner. On this matter, it may be best while I am still in control of my own feelings. Now, let me talk about my reasons for getting married first, and more importantly, my intention to come to Hertfordshire to find a mate, because I really have that intention."

Elizabeth couldn't help feeling very amused at the thought that Collins, with such a serious look, could not control his own feelings.Therefore, although he paused for a moment, she did not have time to stop him from going on: "I want to get married for several reasons: First, I think that any priest who lives as well as I do should set up a church for the whole parish. A good example of marriage; second, I am convinced that marriage will greatly promote my happiness; third, perhaps I should have mentioned this point earlier, I have been fortunate enough to meet such a noble patroness in my life, and she especially advised me Marriage, especially in favor of my marriage. She twice gave me her opinion on the matter--and I did not ask her--On the Saturday evening before I left Hunsford, we were playing cards, Mrs Jenkins was putting the pedals for Miss de Bourgh, and she said to me: 'Mr Collins, you must marry. A clergyman like you must marry. Choose well, choose a daughter of a good family, for me , and also for your own sake. People should be lively and able to do things, not seeking noble birth, but they should be able to calculate and arrange a small income properly. This is my opinion. Hurry up and find someone like this Come, woman, take her to Hansford, and I will take care of her.' My dear cousin, let me tell you, that Madame Catherine de Bourgh's tender care of me is a privilege of mine. I can't describe her. You'll see it someday. I think you'll be pleased with your intelligence and vivacity. As long as you look more dignified and dignified in front of such a noble person as her, she'll love you. I will like you very much. In general, I want to get married for these purposes. Now I have to say, there are many young and lovely girls in our own village. Why did I choose Longburn instead of my own village? What about it? The thing is this: when your father passes away (I wish him a long life), I will inherit the property, so I plan to marry one of his daughters as a family, so that when this unpleasant thing happens in the future, you I would be very sorry if I could have done as little loss as possible. Of course, as I have just said, it may take many years before this happens. That is my motive. My dear cousin, if I take the liberty to say, You will not despise me for that. Now that I have finished my sentence, I will express my most passionate feelings to you in the most passionate language. As to dowry property, I am completely indifferent, and I will never be in it. I know very well what to ask of your father, and he is beyond his abilities. The property that is due to you is nothing more than a deposit of £[-] with an annual interest of [-]%. It belongs to you. Therefore, I will not bring up that issue, and please rest assured that after we get married, I will never say a mean word. "

Now it was time to interrupt him.

"You are in such a hurry, sir," she exclaimed, "that you forget that I have not answered you at all. Don't waste any more time, let me answer you now. Thank you for the compliment! I am honored, but unfortunately I have no choice but to decline."

Mr. Collins waved his hand solemnly and replied: "When young girls meet someone for the first time, even if they are willing to agree in their hearts, they always refuse verbally, sometimes even twice or three times. From this point of view, what you just said Words will never discourage me, and I hope to lead you to the altar soon."

Elizabeth cried: "To tell you the truth, sir, it is very strange for you to hope when I have spoken. To tell you the truth, if there were such a bold young lady in the world, take yourself I am not one to risk my happiness, to be asked a second time. My refusal is quite serious. You cannot make me happy, and I believe I can never make you happy. Oh, if you If my friend Lady Catherine knew me, I am sure she would find that I am in no way fit to be your wife."

Mr. Collins said seriously: "Even if Mrs. Catherine has such an idea, I think she will never disapprove of you. Please rest assured that the next time I am lucky enough to see her, I will definitely praise you in front of her." Tranquility, frugality, and all sorts of other lovely virtues."

"To tell the truth, Mr. Collins, no matter how much you praise me, it is a waste of words. I will have my own opinions on my own affairs. As long as you believe what I say, it is a reward for my face. I wish you happiness. I therefore Rejecting your marriage proposal is just to avoid any accidents for you. As for you, since you have proposed to me, then you don't have to feel any embarrassment about my family affairs. It will be your turn, and you will have a fair share of it. Let the matter be settled,' she said, rising to her feet, and would have walked out of the room if Mr. Collins had not told her the following. up.

"If I am lucky enough to talk to you about this issue next time, I hope you can give me a more satisfactory answer than this time. I don't blame you for being ruthless this time, because I know that you girls are the first to men. As usual, I always refuse the marriage proposal this time, maybe what you said just now is in line with the delicate character of a woman, and it is enough to encourage me to continue my pursuit."

When Elizabeth heard this, she couldn't help being a little annoyed, and she cried out: "Mr. Collins, you are so incomprehensible. I have already said this. If you still feel that this is encouraging you, then I don't know what to do." Indulging you can make you die."

"Dear cousin, allow me to say something presumptuous: I believe that your refusal of my marriage proposal is nothing more than routine. I think so, in short, for several reasons: : I do not think that my proposal to you is not unworthy of your acceptance. You will never underestimate my family property. My social status, my relationship with the de Bourgh family, and your relatives Relationships are my very superior conditions. I have to ask you to think about it: Although you have many attractive places, you have too little property, which offsets your loveliness and many of your superior conditions. No one else will propose to you again, so I am compelled to think that this time you are not refusing me solemnly, but, following the usual practice of noble women, you are playing hard to get more of my affections. "

"Sir, I assure you, this is not arty, deliberately playing tricks on a gentleman of dignity. I hope you believe me to tell the truth, I will be very honorable, and I am grateful for the wrong love to propose to me. It’s endless, but it’s absolutely impossible for me to accept it, and I’m sorry. Didn’t I make it clear enough? Please don’t take me as a noble woman who deliberately teases you, but as a sincere Ordinary people who talk."

He was very embarrassed, but he had to pretend to be courteous and shouted: "You are always so cute! I believe that as long as your father makes the decision to agree to me, you will never refuse."

He deceived himself again and again, and Elizabeth didn't bother to talk to him any more, and walked away without saying a word.She made up her mind: if he had to regard her repeated rejections as intentional to curry favor with him and to encourage him, then she had no choice but to turn to her father for help and ask him to reject him firmly.Collins would no longer see her father's refusal as a dignified woman's posturing and coquettishness.

(End of this chapter)