صفحة 239 من 817

The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end,

and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings

necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish

allusion of her mother. As for the gentleman himself, his

feelings were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or

dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of manner

and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her; and the

assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of himself

were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose

civility in listening to him was a seasonable relief to them all,

and especially to her friend.

The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill humour or

ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry

pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might shorten his

visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by it.

He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he still

meant to stay.