contents. I did not know before that I had two daughters on the brink

of matrimony. Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest.”
The colour now rushed into Elizabeth’s cheeks in the instantaneous

conviction of its being a letter from the nephew, instead of the aunt;

and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained

himself at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to

herself, when her father continued,{445}—
“You look conscious. Young ladies have great penetration in such matters

as these; but I think I may defy even your sagacity to discover the

name of your admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins.”
“From Mr. Collins! and what can he have to say?”
“Something very much to the purpose, of course. He begins with

congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter, of

which, it seems, he has been told by some of the good-natured, gossiping

Lucases. I shall not sport with your impatience by reading what he says

on that point. What relates to yourself is as follows:—‘Having thus

offered you the sincere congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on

this happy event, let me now add a short hint on the subject of another,

of which we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughter

Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennet, after

her eldest sister has resigned it; and the chosen partner of her fate

may be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages

in this land.’ Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by this?

‘This young gentleman is blessed, in a peculiar way, with everything the

heart of mortal can most desire,—splendid property, noble kindred, and

extensive patronage. Yet, in spite of all these temptations, let me warn

my cousin Elizabeth, and yourself, of what evils you may incur by a

precipitate closure with this gentleman’s proposals, which, of course,