Pagina 266 de 817

Mrs. Bennet was, in fact, too much overpowered to say a great

deal while Sir William remained; but no sooner had he left them

than her feelings found a rapid vent. In the first place, she

persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter; secondly, she

was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken in; thirdly, she

trusted that they would never be happy together; and, fourthly,

that the match might be broken off. Two inferences, however, were

plainly deduced from the whole: one, that Elizabeth was the real

cause of all the mischief; and the other, that she herself had

been barbarously used by them all; and on these two points she

principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could

console and nothing appease her. Nor did that day wear out her

resentment.