"While I can have my mornings to myself,
" said she,
"it is enough.
-- I think it no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. Society
has claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those who consider intervals
of recreation and amusement as desirable for every body."
Elizabeth's spirits were so high on the occasion that,
though she did
not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins,
she could not help asking him
whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation,
and,
if he did,
whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's amusement; and she
was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple whatever on that
head,
and was very far from dreading a rebuke either from the Archbishop,
or Lady Catherine de Bourgh,
by venturing to dance.
"I am by no means of opinion,
I assure you,
" said he,
"that a
ball of this kind,
given by a young man of character to respectable people,
can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing
myself,
that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair
cousins in the course of the evening,
and I take this opportunity of
soliciting yours,
Miss Elizabeth,
for the two first dances especially,
-- a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right
cause,
and not to any disrespect for her."
Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being
engaged by Wickham for those very dances: -- and to have Mr. Collins instead!
her liveliness had been never worse timed. There was no help for it however. Mr.
Wickham's happiness and her own was perforce delayed a little longer,
and
Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could. She was not
the better pleased with his gallantry from the idea it suggested of something
more. -- It now first struck her that she was selected from among her sisters as
worthy of being the mistress of Hunsford Parsonage,
and of assisting to form
a quadrille table at Rosings,
in the absence of more eligible visitors. The
idea soon reached to conviction,
as she observed his increasing civilities
toward herself,
and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit
and vivacity; and though more astonished than gratified herself by this effect
of her charms,
it was not long before her mother gave her to understand that
the probability of their marriage was exceedingly agreeable to her. Elizabeth,
however,
did not chuse to take the hint,
being well aware that a
serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply. Mr. Collins might never
make the offer,
and till he did,
it was useless to quarrel about
him.
If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of,
the younger Miss Bennets would have been in a pitiable state at this time,
for from the day of the invitation to the day of the ball,
there was
such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton once. No aunt,
no officers,
no news could be sought after; -- the very shoe-roses for
Netherfield were got by proxy. Even Elizabeth might have found some trial of her
patience in weather which totally suspended the improvement of her acquaintance
with Mr. Wickham; and nothing less than a dance on Tuesday,
could have made
such a Friday,
Saturday,
Sunday,
and Monday endurable to Kitty and
Lydia.