ready to believe, for everybody’s sake, that she may feel something like

regard and esteem for our cousin.”
“To oblige you, I would try to believe almost anything, but no one else

could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that

Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only think worse of her

understanding than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a

conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man: you know he is, as well as

I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who marries him

cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her, though

it is Charlotte Lucas. You shall not, for the sake of one individual,

change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade

yourself or me, that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of

danger security for happiness.”
“I must think your language too strong in speaking of both,” replied

Jane; “and I hope you will be convinced of it, by seeing them happy

together. But enough of this. You alluded to something else. You

mentioned two instances. I cannot misunderstand you, but I entreat

you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking that person{172} to blame, and

saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy

ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man

to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but

our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than

it does.”
“And men take care that they should.”
“If it is designedly done, they cannot be justified; but I have no idea

of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine.”
“I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley’s conduct to design,”

said Elizabeth; “but, without scheming to do wrong, or to make others

unhappy, there may be error and there may be misery. Thoughtlessness,

want of attention to other people’s feelings, and want of resolution,