refusal which his cousin had steadfastly given him would naturally flow

from her bashful modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character.{140}
This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet: she would have been

glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to encourage

him by protesting against his proposals, but she dared not believe it,

and could not help saying so.
“But depend upon it, Mr. Collins,” she added, “that Lizzy shall be

brought to reason. I will speak to her about it myself directly. She is

a very headstrong, foolish girl, and does not know her own interest; but

I will make her know it.”
“Pardon me for interrupting you, madam,” cried Mr. Collins; “but if she

is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she would

altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who

naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If, therefore, she

actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to

force her into accepting me, because, if liable to such defects of

temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity.”
“Sir, you quite misunderstand me,” said Mrs. Bennet, alarmed. “Lizzy is

only headstrong in such matters as these. In everything else she is as

good-natured a girl as ever lived. I will go directly to Mr. Bennet, and

we shall very soon settle it with her, I am sure.”
She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to her

husband, called out, as she entered the library,—
“Oh, Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar.

You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will

not have him; and if you do not make haste he will change his mind and

not have her.{141}”
Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them

on her face with a calm unconcern, which was not in the least altered by

her communication.
“I have not the pleasure of understanding you,” said he, when she had