Chapter 19

           ThenextdayopenedanewsceneatLongbourn. Mr.Collinsmadehisdeclarationinform. Havingresolvedtodoitwithoutlossoftime,ashisleaveofabsenceextendedonlytothefollowingSaturday,andhavingnofeelingsofdiffidencetomakeitdistressingtohimselfevenatthemoment,hesetaboutitinaveryorderlymanner,withalltheobservances,whichhesupposedaregularpartofthebusiness. OnfindingMrs.Bennet,Elizabeth,andoneoftheyoungergirlstogether,soonafterbreakfast,headdressedthemotherinthesewords: 

           "MayIhope,madam,foryourinterestwithyourfairdaughterElizabeth,whenIsolicitforthehonourofaprivateaudiencewithherinthecourseofthismorning?" 

           BeforeElizabethhadtimeforanythingbutablushofsurprise,Mrs.Bennetansweredinstantly, "Ohdear!—yes—certainly. IamsureLizzywillbeveryhappy—Iamsureshecanhavenoobjection. Come,Kitty,Iwantyouupstairs." And,gatheringherworktogether,shewashasteningaway,whenElizabethcalledout: 

           "Dearmadam,donotgo. Ibegyouwillnotgo. Mr.Collinsmustexcuseme. Hecanhavenothingtosaytomethatanybodyneednothear. Iamgoingawaymyself." 

           "No,no,nonsense,Lizzy. Idesireyoutostaywhereyouare." AnduponElizabeth’sseemingreally,withvexedandembarrassedlooks,abouttoescape,sheadded: "Lizzy,IinsistuponyourstayingandhearingMr.Collins."