Chapter 22

           TheBennetswereengagedtodinewiththeLucasesandagainduringthechiefofthedaywasMissLucassokindastolistentoMr.Collins. Elizabethtookanopportunityofthankingher. "Itkeepshimingoodhumour,"saidshe,"andIammoreobligedtoyouthanIcanexpress." Charlotteassuredherfriendofhersatisfactioninbeinguseful,andthatitamplyrepaidherforthelittlesacrificeofhertime. Thiswasveryamiable,butCharlotte’skindnessextendedfartherthanElizabethhadanyconceptionof; itsobjectwasnothingelsethantosecureherfromanyreturnofMr.Collins’saddresses,byengagingthemtowardsherself. SuchwasMissLucas’sscheme;andappearancesweresofavourable,thatwhentheypartedatnight,shewouldhavefeltalmostsecureofsuccessifhehadnotbeentoleaveHertfordshiresoverysoon. Buthereshedidinjusticetothefireandindependenceofhischaracter,foritledhimtoescapeoutofLongbournHousethenextmorningwithadmirableslyness,andhastentoLucasLodgetothrowhimselfatherfeet. Hewasanxioustoavoidthenoticeofhiscousins,fromaconvictionthatiftheysawhimdepart,theycouldnotfailtoconjecturehisdesign,andhewasnotwillingtohavetheattemptknowntillitssuccessmightbeknownlikewise; forthoughfeelingalmostsecure,andwithreason,forCharlottehadbeentolerablyencouraging,hewascomparativelydiffidentsincetheadventureofWednesday. Hisreception,however,wasofthemostflatteringkind. MissLucasperceivedhimfromanupperwindowashewalkedtowardsthehouse,andinstantlysetouttomeethimaccidentallyinthelane. Butlittlehadshedaredtohopethatsomuchloveandeloquenceawaitedherthere. 

           InasshortatimeasMr.Collins’slongspeecheswouldallow,everythingwassettledbetweenthemtothesatisfactionofboth; andastheyenteredthehouseheearnestlyentreatedhertonamethedaythatwastomakehimthehappiestofmen; andthoughsuchasolicitationmustbewaivedforthepresent,theladyfeltnoinclinationtotriflewithhishappiness.