as he did experience he pronounced to be of a most agreeable sort; for

it gratified him, he said, to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had

been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and

more foolish than his daughter!
Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match: but she said

less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness;

nor could Elizabeth persuade her to consider it as improbable. Kitty and

Lydia were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a

clergyman; and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news

to spread at Meryton.
Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort on

Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married; and she

called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was,

though Mrs. Bennet’s sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been

enough to drive happiness away.
Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them

mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that no

real confidence could{164} ever subsist between them again. Her

disappointment in Charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her

sister, of whose rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could

never be shaken, and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious, as

Bingley had now been gone a week, and nothing was heard of his return.
Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and was counting

the days till she might reasonably hope to hear again. The promised

letter of thanks from Mr. Collins arrived on Tuesday, addressed to their

father, and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a

twelve-month’s abode in the family might have prompted. After

discharging his conscience on that head, he proceeded to inform them,

with many rapturous expressions, of his happiness in having obtained the