Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail

bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of

five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
“It certainly is a most iniquitous affair,” said Mr. Bennet; “and

nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn.

But if you will listen to his letter, you may, perhaps, be a little

softened by his manner of expressing himself.”
“No, that I am sure I shall not: and I think it was very impertinent of

him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false

friends. Why could not he keep on quarrelling with you, as his father

did before him?”
“Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that

head, as you will hear.{80}”
“Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October.


“Dear Sir,

“The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured

father always gave me much uneasiness; and, since I have had the

misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the

breach: but, for some time, I was kept back by my own doubts,

fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be

on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be

at variance.”—‘There, Mrs. Bennet.’—“My mind, however, is now

made up on the subject; for, having received ordination at Easter,

I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of

the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis

de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the

valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest

endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her

Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies

which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman,

moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing

of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on