Overheard by Marley Fulton

Author:Marley Fulton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-04-14T04:00:00+00:00

***

By the time the subject of the family distress arrived, they were able to receive him with proper politeness. Mr. Collins was punctual to his time and exited his carriage with great condescension. He was a tall, heavy-looking young man, with grave and stately hair and very formal manners.

Mr. Bennet greeted him briefly, but the ladies were ready enough to talk to him. Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He expressed his joy in meeting them all, praised the house and complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters.

“I must confess I have heard much of my cousins’ beauty, but I can see fame has fallen short of the truth. I have no doubts of seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage,” he said enthusiastically.

“Come, Mr. Collins. Let us have a drink and something to eat before we plan my daughters’ marriages,” Mr. Bennet said, exchanging a quick look with Elizabeth.

Only several minutes were enough for both of them to notice that Mr. Collins was everything they expected and perhaps worse.

Mrs. Bennet, who quarrelled with no compliments, answered most readily,

"You are very kind, sir; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so, for else they will be destitute enough. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls. Not that I mean to find fault with you."

"I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins. I come prepared to admire them and, hopefully, to find a way to make things better. At present, I will not say more, but perhaps when we are better acquainted..."

Elizabeth and Jane quickly glanced at each other, then at their mother. There was little doubt left–Mr. Collins had arrived to find a wife at Longbourn. The notion was even more disturbing, as Mrs. Bennet seemed to have understood and encouraged him.

Soon after Mr. Collins’s arrival, the family was summoned to dinner, which offered them more proof of Mr. Collins’s ridiculousness.

“I am ready to share some of my good fortune with my fair cousins! I have been blessed beyond expectations to gain the favour and the protection of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, my noble patroness. She was the one who encouraged my plan to visit you!”

“How lucky of us,” Mr. Bennet replied. “I hope you enjoy your meal, Mr. Collins?”

“Very much so! And the company is even better than the food!”

“For how long will Lady Catherine allow your absence from the parish?”

“I am not sure yet, my dear Mr. Bennet, but I would say at least a week. I look forward to becoming acquainted with as many of Longbourn’s neighbours as possible.”

“How lucky of us,” Mr. Bennet repeated, then allowed his wife to carry the conversation for the rest of the evening.

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