PART
2
A
visit with Mrs. Collins
March was to take Elizabeth
to Hunsford to visit Charlotte. The
journey would moreover give her a peep at Jane; as she would break her journey
in London.
Time in London passed most pleasantly away; the morning in
bustle and shopping,
and the evening at one of the theatres.
Mrs. Gardiner asked Elizabeth to accompany her uncle and
aunt in a tour of pleasure which they proposed taking in the summer.
Elizabeth arrives at the home of Mr. Collins
& Charlotte
Charlotte and Mr. Collins meet her at the gate.
When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was
really an air of great comfort throughout the house, and by Charlotte's evident
enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often forgotten.
Charlotte tells Elizabeth
that Mr. Darcy is visiting his Aunt at Rosings Park.
Walking to Rosings to dine with Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Lady
Catherine asks many impertinent questions,
and Mr. Darcy is ashamed of his
aunt's ill-breeding.
When dinner was over, Elizabeth,
having promised
to play, sat down directly to the instrument.
Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth speak together.
“I certainly
have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "
of
conversing easily with those I have never seen before.”
Mr.
Darcy makes a Proposal
While
writing to her sister Jane, Elizabeth is surprised by Mr. Darcy.
After a few idle commonplaces, Mr. Darcy begins to speak.
"In vain I have
struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me
to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."
“In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the
established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed. I
am sorry to have occasioned pain to anyone.”
"I have every reason in the world to
think ill of you. You have been the principal means of dividing my sister and
Mr. Bingley from each other, involving them both in misery of the acutest
kind."
Mr. Darcy Gives Elizabeth a letter.
Mr.
Darcy gives Elizabeth a letter explaining why he took
Bingley away and why Mr.
Wickam was not to be trusted!