صفحة 273 من 817

Mr. Collins returned most punctually on the Monday fortnight, but

his reception at Longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had

been on his first introduction. He was too happy, however, to

need much attention; and, luckily for the others, the business of

love-making relieved them from a great deal of his company. The

chief of every day was spent by him at Lucas Lodge, and he

sometimes returned to Longbourn only in time to make an apology

for his absence before the family went to bed.