"Oh what a splendid party!" cried Mrs. Bennet.
It was none other than the eve of Michaelmas, and the Longbourn household was filled to its capacity with folk of the gentle persuasion. Some came from -----shire, others arrived from the nearby -----ford and North ----shire and some from -------ford, which, in Mrs. Bennet's own words, gave the traveller a journey of the perilous persuasion.
"Yes, and it would not have been so were it not for dear Mr. Collins' most gracious generosity," Mr. Bennet added with a little laugh. Mr. Collins recognized Mr. Bennet's kind remark with a silent nod of his head.
"Was it of much trouble to procure such a party as this one, suiting our taste of fashion and our own lifestyle, Mr. Collins?" Elizabeth asked eagerly. At the turn of her head she noticed that Mr. Darcy had become so taken with her he followed her movements as if he were burning a hole through her handsome head.
"My dear Miss Bennet, I wish only the best for my dear cousins," Mr. Collins returned smartly. He now had in his hands ten neatly wrapped packages, one for each of his closest guests. He gave one each to Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, their five daughters, one for Miss Bingley and her dear brother Mr. Bingley, and of course to his fine friend, Mr. Darcy.
"Oh my, Mr. Collins! How very kind of you!" Lydia cried, opening her gift with the uptmost care.
"It was nothing at all, Miss Bennet, truly nothing," said Mr. Collins, "I beseech all of you to carefully open your gifts, and it would please me most if you were to wear them on this very evening."
With a nature of the intriguing persuasion each one of the recipients of the gifts opened their respective gifts. Each of the male recipients recieved handsome silk cravats and cufflinks, whilst the recipients of the feminine sex received quite stunning broaches. Each recipient, after opening their respective gifts, were quite indeed pleased and quite quickly adorned themselves with Mr. Collins' generous gifts, thanking him in return.
Mr. Collins stood up, tapping the side of his wine glass to silence his joyful compaitriots. "My dearest friends," he said, "Although you are quite pleased with your gifts at this moment,my generosity has not been spent, for, tonight, I have yet another gift for all of you, and it would give me the most pleasure if you would follow me to the drawing room so that I may explain."
His guests were quite mystified by this addition, but it altogether intrigued them so much that they were greatly obliged to follow their fine friend.