Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 595 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 595

Pride and Prejudice

defy even your sagacity, to discover the name of your

admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins.”

“From Mr. Collins! and what can he have to say?”

“Something very much to the purpose of course.

He begins with congratulations on the approaching

nuptials of my eldest daughter, of which, it seems, he

has been told by some of the good-natured, gossiping

Lucases. I shall not sport with your impatience, by

reading what he says on that point. What relates to

yourself, is as follows:

“‘Having thus offered you the sincere congratula-

tions of Mrs. Collins and myself on this happy event, let

me now add a short hint on the subject of another; of

which we have been advertised by the same authority.

Your daughter Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long

bear the name of Bennet, after her elder sister has

resigned it, and the chosen partner of her fate may be

reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious

personages in this land.’

“Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by

this?

“‘This young gentleman is blessed, in a peculiar

way, with every thing the heart of mortal can most

587