XXII
The Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases，and again during the chief of the day，was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins.Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her.'It keeps him in good humour，'said she，'and I am more obliged to you than I can express.'Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful，and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time.This was very amiable，but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of；—its object was nothing less，than to secure her from any return of Mr.Collins's addresses，by engaging them towards herself.Such was Miss Lucas's scheme；and appearances were so favourable that when they parted at night，she would have felt almost sure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon.But here，she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character，for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness，and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet.He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins，from a conviction that if they saw him depart，they could not fail to conjecture his design，and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success could be known likewise；for though feeling almost secure，and with reason，for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging，he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday.His reception however was of the most flattering kind.Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house，and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane.But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there.
In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow，every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction of both；and as they entered the house，he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men；and though such a solicitation must be waved for the present，the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness.The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature，must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance；and Miss Lucas，who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment，cared not how soon that establishment were gained.
Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent；and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Mr.Collins's present circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter，to whom they could give little fortune；and his prospects of future wealth were exceedingly fair.Lady Lucas began directly to calculate with more interest than the matter had ever excited before，how many years longer Mr.Bennet was likely to live；and Sir William gave it as his decided opinion，that whenever Mr.Collins should be in possession of the Longbourn estate，it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife should make their appearance at St.James's.The whole family in short were properly overjoyed on the occasion.The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done；and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte's dying an old maid.Charlotte herselfwas tolerably composed.She had gained her point，and had time to consider of it.Her reflections were in general satisfactory.Mr.Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable；his society was irksome，and his attachment to her must be imaginary.But still he would be her husband.—Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony，marriage had always been her object；it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune，and however uncertain of giving happiness，must be their pleasantest preservative from want.This preservative she had now obtained；and at the age of twenty-seven，without having ever been handsome，she felt all the good luck of it.The least agreeable circumstance in the business，was the surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet，whose friendship she valued beyond that of any other person.Elizabeth would wonder，and probably would blame her；and though her resolution was not to be shaken，her feelings must be hurt by such disapprobation.She resolved to give her the information herself，and therefore charged Mr.Collins when he returned to Longbourn to dinner，to drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family.A promise of secrecy was of course very dutifully given，but it could not be kept without difficulty；for the curiosity excited by his long absence，burst forth in such very direct questions on his return，as required some ingenuity to evade，and he was at the same time exercising great self-denial，for he was longing to publish his prosperous love.
As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the family，the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved for the night；and Mrs. Bennet with great politeness and cordiality said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again，whenever his other engagements might allowhim to visit them.
'My dear Madam，'he replied，'this invitation is particularly gratifying，because it is what I have been hoping to receive；and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible.'
They were all astonished；and Mr. Bennet，who could by no means wish for so speedy a return，immediately said，
'But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here，my good sir？—You had better neglect your relations，than run the risk of offending your patroness.
'My dear sir，'replied Mr. Collins，'I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution，and you may depend upon my not taking so material a step without her ladyship's concurrence.'