Chapter 13 ~ A Flattering Reception

11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. (James 5:11-12, ESV)

10 By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. 16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. (Proverbs 13:10, 16, ESV)

23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath. (Proverbs 11:23, ESV)

A fortnight of familiar routines passed. Jane sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and was counting the days till she might reasonably hope to hear from her again. Mr. Wickham visited Mr. Bennet on Wednesday mornings as was his habit. Mr. Bennet did make one small change by inviting Elizabeth to join them. He had been greatly entertained by their discussion on Wollstonecraft and wondered if it could be renewed. He had managed to start a short discussion but those who so recently had been intelligent and passionate debaters were become insipid. Each spoke with careful civility – too hesitant to speak, too agreeable and too eager to include him in every conversation. Such dull days were very soon passed and once they had Mr. Collins was expected to return. When Mr. Wickham left the house on the Wednesday before his rival returned, Mary could only look on him with pity. It was true that she had reason to fear Mr. Collins wished to rescind his proposal, nevertheless, knowing as she now did that superior suitors were in her reach she no longer considered Mr. Wickham an object. She sighed, recollecting her childish preference for the dull, silent – though unquestionably handsome – gentleman she very recently cast aside.

Mr. Collins had spent those two weeks meditating in solitude on what had passed. He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motive his cousin could think of refusing him. That her wish for time was not an affectation but instead was real indecision had hurt his pride. Yet he suffered in no other way. His regard for her was easily forgot; and the possibility of her deserving her mother's reproach made him very much regret having made the offer at all. It was now his desire to be released from any obligation to his cousin and only the interference of the Almighty could spare him from the consequences of his hasty descision.

God does work wonders for his servants and He alone knows how He worked in Mary's spirit to grant her the nobility of mind to release him. She had enough self love perhaps to wish for no unwilling husband and so by the close of their awkward second interview he was free to choose another. Mary's sacrifice was as ill rewarded, as such sacrifices generally are, and as soon as she had been informed that there was no engagement to celebrate her mother admonished her.

"If you take it into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, you will never get a husband at all,"

This dire warning did not teach her to repent of it. She felt she had done what was right and expected to be vindicated in time. If she also harboured a wish that he would soon return to beg for another oppourtunity to prove his devotion she gave no hint of it but she did begin to sit and move with a more regal posture not unlike Kitty's and the change made a remarkable difference in her figure.

While Mrs. Bennet bewailed the foolishness of her daughter, Mr. Collins escaped out of Longbourn House – hastening to Lucas Lodge. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they would know exactly what he was about. Having been once humbled his wounded pride could not suffer a repetition of it. Though feeling almost secure, and with very good reason, for Charlotte had made him believe that she thought very highly of him. When at their last meeting he described his parsonage she had sighed very sweetly and looked up at him charmingly as she said,

"Oh! To have such a home, you must feel very-"

She completed the sentence but he had been so struck by that initial phrase that he did not attend to the rest. The grandeur of Lady Catherine and the nobility of Rosings Park were described to her during the ball at Netherfield and she responded with all the awe and reverence he believed his patroness and her estate should naturally inspire. When he made some oblique reference to one day choosing a bride she blushed prettily and correctly supposed that "any woman would feel herself blessed-" Still after so misjudging his cousin's merits he remained wary.

His reception, however, was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there. In as short a time as Mr. Collins' long speeches would allow, everything was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and an early day was named for their wedding.

Charlotte had gained her point, and her reflections were in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins, to be sure, was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was sometimes vexing, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still he would be her husband; and at the age of seven and twenty, without having ever been handsome, she was perfectly satisfied that she had at last secured her future. Charlotte was less satisfied when she thought about how her younger and more romantically inclined friend would respond after learning her choice. It was necessary that she tell Elizabeth herself and to that purpose she charged Mr. Collins to drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family when he returned to Longbourn. A promise of secrecy was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; he was exercising great self-denial, for he was longing to publish his prosperous love.

To ease his suffering his future wife set out early the next day to acquaint her friend with her new circumstances. Her news was met with less grace than she could wish but it did not altogether surprise her.

The prospect of Charlotte's marrying Mr. Collins seemed almost as far from possibility as that she could marry him herself. Her astonishment overcame her sense of decorum, and she did not refrain from crying out –

"Engaged to Mr. Collins! my dear Charlotte, impossible!"

But Elizabeth soon recollected herself, and said everything that was proper and she wished them – although she could not think it probable – all imaginable happiness.

"I see what you are feeling," replied Charlotte; "But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connexions, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state. And I could wish you had a little more practicality; it would have spared you from some of your recent troubles."

Elizabeth smiled at her, unable to think of Charlotte with the same unreserved warmth. She had been terribly disappointed by her choice. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins was a most humiliating picture!

''My father and Maria are to come to me in March," added Charlotte, "and I hope you will consent to be of the party. Indeed, Eliza, you will be as welcome to me as either of them."

The prospect of witnessing her friend in the domestic scene that lay before her was unpleasant but it was offered in such a manner as could not be refused. Charlotte had been a true friend for too long to refuse the invitation.

Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth, once she reflected on what she had heard, knew that it would be many weeks before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. She only hoped she could give a good enough appearance of it by the time of her visit to Hunsford. She spoke of the news only with Mary who she felt must be prepared to hear it soon announced.

Her sister heard it with stoic composure, her lips thinned and her brows lifted with scorn at how easily she had been replaced. Her usually silent sister gave no other indication that she was affected by her suitor's early recovery from her charms. As she was very often silent and aloof her stony displeasure did not seem a remarkable change from her usual demeanor. Elizabeth left her unsure if she had any reaction at all.

During the evening Elizabeth did observe a self-satisfied smile on her cousin's face and understood some pointed remarks he made during supper. Mary likewise heard them and the savage manner in which she attacked the capon before her was the only evidence of her displeasure. Mrs.Bennet still entertained hopes of wooing Mr. Collins for another of her daughters and set about it with some attempts at flattery and by pointing out to him some of Kitty's best features.

"She sits like a queen does she not, such perfect posture and one does not often see such an excellent set of teeth."

Her hopes were short lived for the very next day brought the triumphant Lady Lucas and her husband. Courtesy was to be expected from Sir William but Elizabeth distrusted the super abundant graciousness in his behaviour that morning.

To his many compliments on her family Mrs. Bennet answered properly, returning and sometimes exceeding his, for she did not like to be outdone. When Sir William hinted that "the prospect of a connexion between the two houses would be most gratifying to him" Mr. Bennet eyed Mary wondering if she had now transferred her affection to Albert Lucas after all. His eyes were still on his daughter, who wore a concious blush lending some credence to his outrageous thought. Lady Lucas then explained her husband's meaning with excessive joy and tender hopes for the couple's future felicity. Mrs. Bennet was certain she was adding up how many years more her husband was likely to live as she watched her neighbour and friend of many years look over her parlour. When Lady Lucas eyed her drapes with a proprietary smirk Mrs. Bennet turned dangerously red and began a vituperative reproach of false friends. Jane and Elizabeth immediately erupted with joyful exclamations to cover their mother's disbelieving words and angry looks. Sir William's good-breeding carried him through it all; and Lady Lucas listened to all their mother's impertinence with the air of a victor collecting her spoils.

Jane confessed to being a little surprised at the match; but she said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness. Kitty and Lydia said what was polite and then were content to whisper to each other. They were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news to spread at Meryton. Mary endured it all with the magnanimous dignity of a martyr.

Mrs. Bennet was soon composed and while vexation was written clearly across her face she managed to say what she ought on the occasion, but no sooner had they left, taking a puffed up Mr.Collins with them, than her feelings once again found a vent. Mr. Bennet's was much more tranquil on the occasion,

"I am very pleased to discover that one lady who I had believed uncommonly sensible is as silly as the rest of her sex."

After a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of Saturday. The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his side, by preparations for the reception of his bride.