you will be inclined to take immediate advantage of.’ Have you any idea,

Lizzy, who this gentleman is? But now it comes out. ‘My motive for

cautioning you is as follows:—We have reason to imagine that his aunt,

Lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not look on the match with a friendly

eye.’ Mr. Darcy, you see, is the man! Now, Lizzy, I think{446} I have

surprised you. Could he, or the Lucases, have pitched on any man, within

the circle of our acquaintance, whose name would have given the lie more

effectually to what they related? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any

woman but to see a blemish, and who probably never looked at you in

his life! It is admirable!”
Elizabeth tried to join in her father’s pleasantry, but could only force

one most reluctant smile. Never had his wit been directed in a manner so

little agreeable to her.
“Are you not diverted?”
“Oh, yes. Pray read on.”
“‘After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her Ladyship last

night, she immediately, with her usual condescension, expressed what she

felt on the occasion; when it became apparent, that, on the score of

some family objections on the part of my cousin, she would never give

her consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match. I thought it my

duty to give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin, that she

and her noble admirer may be aware of what they are about, and not run

hastily into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned.’ Mr.

Collins, moreover, adds, ‘I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia’s sad

business has been so well hushed up, and am only concerned that their

living together before the marriage took place should be so generally

known. I must not, however, neglect the duties of my station, or refrain

from declaring my amazement, at hearing that you received the young

couple into your house as soon as they were married. It was an

encouragement of vice; and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should