“Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornaments. Her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine,that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess,and that the most elevated rank,instead of giving her consequence,would be adorned by her. These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship,and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay.”
“You judge very properly,”said Mr.Bennet,“and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy.May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment,or are the result of previous study?”
“They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible.”
Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance,and,except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth,requiring no partner in his pleasure.
By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr.Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over,glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies.Mr. Collins readily assented,and a book was produced;but,on beholding it(for everything announced it to be from a circulating library),he started back, and begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed.Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume,and before he had,with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages,she interrupted him with:
“Do you know,mamma,that my uncle Phillips talks of turning away Richard;and if he does,Colonel Forster will hire him.My aunt told me so herself on Saturday.I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it,and to ask when Mr.Denny comes back from town.”
Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue;but Mr.Collins,much offended,laid aside his book,and said:
“I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of a serious stamp,though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin.”
Then turning to Mr.Bennet,he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it should not occur again,if he would resume his book;but Mr.Collins,after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent her behaviour as any affront,seated himself at another table with Mr.Bennet,and prepared for backgammon.