| [00:01.49] |
5 Mr Collins proposes twice5 |
| [00:05.37] |
At Longbourn the next day, |
| [00:09.19] |
soon after breakfast, |
| [00:10.40] |
Mr Collins asked Mrs Bennet |
| [00:12.79] |
for permission to speak prvately to Elizabeth |
| [00:15.83] |
Mrs Bennet was delighted, |
| [00:17.32] |
and hurried the other girls out of the room, |
| [00:19.78] |
so that Elizabeth and Mr Collins |
| [00:21.11] |
were left alone together. |
| [00:23.89] |
Elizabeth did not want to stay, |
| [00:26.7] |
and got up to leave, |
| [00:27.25] |
but after a moment' s thought, |
| [00:29.52] |
sat down again quietly, |
| [00:31.60] |
determined to listen and reply politely. |
| [00:34.78] |
' My dear Miss Elizabeth," |
| [00:36.39] |
said Mr Collins seriously, |
| [00:38.0] |
' this little unwillingness to hear me," |
| [00:41.39] |
this modesty of yours, |
| [00:42.90] |
can only add to your other charms. |
| [00:45.54] |
You can hardly doubt the purpose of my speech. |
| [00:49.60] |
Almost as soon as I entered the house, |
| [00:52.14] |
I chose you as the companion of my future life. |
| [00:55.55] |
But before I am carried away by my feelings, |
| [00:58.46] |
I think I should state my reasons for marrying. |
| [01:01.95] |
Elizabeth was trying so hard not to laugh |
| [01:05.84] |
at the idea of Mr Collins being carried away by his feelings |
| [01:09.5] |
that she was unable to reply. |
| [01:11.49] |
' First,' he continued, |
| [01:14.10] |
' it is right for a priest to marry, " |
| [01:16.55] |
as an example to other people |
| [01:18.67] |
Secondly, I' m sure marriage will |
| [01:22.87] |
add greatly to my happiness, |
| [01:25.35] |
and thirdly, |
| [01:26.84] |
which perhaps I should have mentioned earlier, |
| [01:29.86] |
my generous patron |
| [01:31.23] |
has advised me to marry. |
| [01:35.64] |
" Find an active, useful sort of person," ' |
| [01:37.44] |
she told me, |
| [01:38.56] |
" a woman who can make a small income go a long way. ' |
| [01:41.99] |
Bring her to Hunsford as your wife, |
| [01:44.69] |
and I' ll visit her." |
| [01:46.31] |
So I decided to choose a wife from among my Bennet cousins, |
| [01:50.50] |
to lessen the loss to the family when the sad event of your father' s death takes place. |
| [01:55.39] |
I flatter myself that you will appreciate my motives. |
| [01:58.54] |
And now, nothing remains |
| [02:01.38] |
but to convince you of the violence of my affection. |
| [02:04.56] |
I am quite indifferent to the fact that you bring little money with you into our marringe, |
| [02:10.6] |
and promise you that |
| [02:11.42] |
I shall make no ungenerous reference to this after we are married.' |
| [02:14.62] |
It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now. |
| [02:18.53] |
' Sir, you forget I have given no answer. " |
| [02:21.59] |
Accept my thanks for the compliment you are paying me, |
| [02:24.96] |
but it is impossible for me to accept your proposal.' |
| [02:28.31] |
' Of course I understand,' said Mr Collins," |
| [02:32.7] |
' that young ladies often do not accept a proposal of marriage the first time. " |
| [02:37.11] |
I am therefore not at all discouraged, |
| [02:39.47] |
and sincerely hope we shall be married soon.' |
| [02:42.52] |
' Sir,' cried Elizabeth," |
| [02:44.69] |
' your hope is rather extraordinary after what I' ve said! " |
| [02:48.33] |
I am perfectly serious. |
| [02:50.42] |
You could not make me happy, |
| [02:52.95] |
and I' m convinced I' m the last woman in the world who would make you happy. |
| [02:57.30] |
And I' m sure that if Lady Catherine knew me, |
| [03:00.40] |
she would find me poorly qualified for the situation.' |
| [03:03.20] |
' If I knew Lady Catherine thought so'" |
| [03:07.20] |
began Mr Collins, looking very worried. |
| [03:09.82] |
' But I cannot imagine she would disapprove of you. " |
| [03:12.38] |
And when I have the honour of seeing her again, |
| [03:14.79] |
I shall certainly tell her how modest, economical and practical you are.' |
| [03:19.34] |
' Indeed, Mr Collins, all praise of me will be unnecessary. " |
| [03:23.75] |
Pay me the compliment of believing what I say. |
| [03:26.69] |
I hope you will be very happy and very rich, |
| [03:29.84] |
but I cannot accept your proposal.' |
| [03:32.14] |
She got up and was going to leave the room, |
| [03:35.27] |
but Mr Collins was speaking to her again. |
| [03:37.94] |
' I am far from accusing you of cruelty in refusing me," |
| [03:41.54] |
as I know it is the custom with elegant ladies in society |
| [03:45.0] |
to refuse a gentleman the first time. |
| [03:47.48] |
I hope to receive a more favourable answer next time I speak to you of marriage.' |
| [03:52.16] |
' Really, Mr Collins,' cried Elizabeth with some warmth," |
| [03:55.62] |
' you do puzzle me! ' " |
| [03:57.47] |
I do not know how to express my refusal so that it convinces you! |
| [04:02.13] |
' You must allow me to flatter myself, dear cousin," |
| [04:05.36] |
that you do not intend to refuse me for long. |
| [04:08.50] |
My situation in life, |
| [04:10.7] |
my connections with the de Bourgh family, |
| [04:12.29] |
and my relationship to your own, |
| [04:14.58] |
all make my proposal a very suitable one. |
| [04:17.68] |
And you should remember that |
| [04:20.50] |
in spite of your many admirable qualities, |
| [04:22.19] |
it is not certain that you will receive any other offer of marriage, |
| [04:25.43] |
as you have very little money of your own.' |
| [04:28.11] |
' Sir, thank you again for the honour you have done me," |
| [04:33.31] |
but to accept your proposal is absolutely impossible. |
| [04:36.11] |
Can I speak plainer than that? |
| [04:38.30] |
Don' t think of me as an elegant female, |
| [04:41.67] |
but as a thinking creature speaking the truth from her heart!' |
| [04:45.95] |
' You are charming! he cried," |
| [04:48.82] |
' and I' m sure that when both your excellent parents agree," |
| [04:52.42] |
you will accept my proposal!' |
| [04:54.84] |
Elizabeth did not reply, |
| [04:58.0] |
but left the room silently, |
| [05:00.11] |
determined to ask her father, |
| [05:02.5] |
if necessary, |
| [05:02.98] |
to make her refusal clear to the selfdeceiving Mr Collins. |
| [05:07.24] |
Mrs Bennet had been waiting eagerly for |
| [05:11.74] |
the end of the interview, |
| [05:14.24] |
and when she saw Elizabeth leave the room, |
| [05:17.22] |
she hurried into offer her congratulations to Mr Collins. |
| [05:17.68] |
He received them with pleasure, |
| [05:19.74] |
adding that he was sure his cousin' s refusal |
| [05:21.42] |
was a natural result of her modesty and delicacy of character. |
| [05:25.92] |
' Refusal?' repeated Mrs Bennet, shocked. " |
| [05:28.90] |
' Lizzy refused you? Do not worry, Mr Collins. " |
| [05:33.7] |
I shall speak to her at once. |
| [05:34.98] |
She' s a very obstinate, foolish girl, |
| [05:37.20] |
but I' ll make her accept you. |
| [05:39.19] |
' Pardon me, madam,' cried Mr Collins," |
| [05:42.4] |
' but if she' s really obstinate and foolish," |
| [05:44.52] |
I do not think she would be a suitable wife for a man in my situation.' |
| [05:48.25] |
' Sir, you quite misunderstand me," |
| [05:51.48] |
' said Mrs Bennet, alarmed. |
| [05:53.22] |
' She' s only obstinate in a matter like this. " |
| [05:56.11] |
In everything else she is very agreeable. |
| [05:58.92] |
I' ll see Mr Bennet |
| [06:00.83] |
and we' ll arrange it with her, I' m sure.' |
| [06:03.4] |
She did not give him time to reply, |
| [06:05.95] |
but hurried to the library, |
| [06:07.64] |
where she knew she would find her husband. |
| [06:09.39] |
' Oh, Mr Bennet, we need you urgently! " |
| [06:11.66] |
We' re all in such confusion! |
| [06:13.81] |
You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr Collins!' |
| [06:16.36] |
Mr Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, |
| [06:20.65] |
and stared at her with calm unconcern |
| [06:22.93] |
' I do not have the pleasure of understanding you,'" |
| [06:25.84] |
he said.' What are you talking about?' |
| [06:29.4] |
' Lizzy declares she won' t have him," |
| [06:32.69] |
and if you don' t hurry, |
| [06:33.51] |
he' ll change his mind and not have her.' |
| [06:35.67] |
' So what should I do? " |
| [06:37.88] |
It seems a hopeless business.' |
| [06:39.36] |
' Speak to her about yourself. " |
| [06:41.55] |
Tell her you insist on her marrying him.' |
| [06:44.21] |
' Call her in here. She shall hear my opinion.'" |
| [06:47.42] |
Mrs Bennet gladly rang the bell, |
| [06:50.58] |
and the servant brought Elizabeth into the library. |
| [06:52.75] |
' Come here, child, |
| [06:55.7] |
said her father as she appeared. |
| [06:56.99] |
' I' ve sent for you on a very important matter. " |
| [07:00.1] |
I understand that Mr Collins has made you an offer of marriage, |
| [07:04.59] |
and you have refused?' |
| [07:06.2] |
When Elizabeth nodded, he continued, |
| [07:09.26] |
Very well. Now, your mother insists on your accepting. " |
| [07:14.27] |
Isn' t that right, Mrs Bennet?' |
| [07:16.22] |
' Yes, or I' ll never see her again.'" |
| [07:19.14] |
' You now have an unhappy choice to make, Elizabeth. " |
| [07:23.1] |
From this day on, |
| [07:25.2] |
you must be a stranger to one of your parents. |
| [07:27.58] |
Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr Collins, |
| [07:31.86] |
and I will never see you again if you do.' |
| [07:34.63] |
Elizabeth could not help smiling, |
| [07:37.51] |
but Mrs Bennet, who had been sure her husband supported her, |
| [07:41.5] |
was very disappointed. |
| [07:42.62] |
' What do you mean, Mr Bennet? " |
| [07:44.41] |
You promised me you would insist on her marrying him.' |
| [07:47.57] |
' My dear,' replied her husband," |
| [07:51.24] |
' I have two small requests to make. " |
| [07:54.70] |
First, that you will accept that I know what I promised or did not promise, |
| [08:00.80] |
and secondly, that you will all leave me in peace as soon as possible.' |
| [08:06.28] |
That afternoon, Charlotte Lucas came to visit Elizabeth, |
| [08:11.51] |
and found the family still in great confusion. |
| [08:14.26] |
The younger girls were quite excited by the news of Mr Collins' proposal, |
| [08:17.91] |
and Mrs Bennet was most annoyed with Elizabeth. |
| [08:21.42] |
' Oh dear Miss Lucas,' cried Mrs Bennet," |
| [08:23.98] |
can' t you persuade Elizabeth to accept Mr Collins? " |
| [08:26.81] |
Nobody else wants to help me! Oh, how ill I feel! |
| [08:30.96] |
And look at Lizzy now! She' s so unconcerned! |
| [08:34.67] |
But I tell you, Miss Lizzy, |
| [08:36.69] |
if you go on refusing every offer of marriage like this, |
| [08:39.86] |
you' ll never get a husband at all! |
| [08:41.75] |
And I won' t be able to provide for you when your father is dead, I warn you now. |
| [08:47.34] |
I told you in the library that I wouldn' t speak to you again, and I won' t. |
| [08:51.83] |
I have no pleasure in talking to an undutiful child like you. |
| [08:55.84] |
Not that I have much pleasure in talking to anybody, with my headaches. |
| [09:00.76] |
Nobody knows how I suffer! |
| [09:03.60] |
But of course those who do not complain are never pitied.' |
| [09:08.14] |
Her daughters listened in silence, |
| [09:11.4] |
aware that any attempt to calm her would only increase her annoyance. |
| [09:15.9] |
Elizabeth, however, was determined not to marry Mr Collins, |
| [09:20.12] |
and in the end Mrs Bennet was obliged to accept that fact. |
| [09:24.91] |
When Mr Collins realized that Elizabeth had meant what she said, |
| [09:28.82] |
his manner towards her became coldly and stiffly polite. |
| [09:32.49] |
His long speeches and flattering compliments were transferred for the rest of the day to kind Charlotte Lucas, |
| [09:39.29] |
who took on herself the trouble of listening to him, |
| [09:41.90] |
for which all the Bennets were very grateful. |
| [09:44.63] |
The next day a letter was delivered to Jane from Netherfield |
| [09:49.98] |
Elizabeth saw her sister' s expression change as she read it, |
| [09:53.72] |
and when they were alone, |
| [09:55.50] |
she asked about it. |
| [09:56.99] |
' It' s from Caroline Bingley,' said Jane," |
| [09:59.30] |
' and it has surprised me very much. " |
| [10:02.8] |
The whole party have left Netherfield, |
| [10:04.95] |
and are on their way back to London, |
| [10:06.95] |
probably for the winter. |
| [10:08.68] |
They may not return to Netherfield at all. |
| [10:11.22] |
She says the only thing she sincerely regrets is leaving me behind in Hertfordshire, |
| [10:16.20] |
and promises! to write very frequently.' |
| [10:18.33] |
Elizabeth did not trust Miss Bingley' s apparent affection for Jane. |
| [10:22.39] |
' I really don' t think their departure matters very much, she said. " |
| [10:32.6] |
' Mr Bingley won' t be kept in London by his sisters. " |
| [10:34.94] |
I' m sure he' ll be back at Netherfield soon.' |
| [10:35.58] |
' But perhaps he prefers to stay in London," |
| [10:37.30] |
where many of his friends are. |
| [10:40.61] |
But I haven' t told you everything yet. |
| [10:41.24] |
Let me read you the part which particularly hurts me' |
| [10:43.85] |
Mr Darcy is impatient to see his sister, |
| [10:47.71] |
and we confess we are also eager to see her again |
| [10:50.53] |
Nobody is more beautiful, elegant or accomplished than Georgiana Darcy. |
| [10:55.45] |
Louisa and I have great affection for her, |
| [10:58.34] |
and hope one day to call her sister. |
| [11:00.91] |
My brother admires her very much. |
| [11:03.45] |
He will have frequent opportunities of seeing her, |
| [11:06.42] |
and although I am his sister I must say I think |
| [11:09.61] |
he is most capable of winning any woman' s heart. |
| [11:12.44] |
' What do you think of this, dear Lizzy? " |
| [11:15.48] |
Isn' t it clear enough? |
| [11:16.96] |
Caroline doesn' t wish or expect me to become her sisterin law |
| [11:20.35] |
she' s convinced of her brother' s indifference towards me, |
| [11:23.28] |
and, perhaps because she suspects my feelings for him, |
| [11:26.60] |
she most kindly! warns me that he' s very likely to marry someone else!' |
| [11:31.25] |
' I have a totally different opinion. " |
| [11:34.31] |
Miss Bingley sees her brother is in love with you, |
| [11:36.97] |
while she wants him to marry Miss Darcy. |
| [11:39.0] |
We aren' t rich enough or grand enough for them, |
| [11:42.18] |
and she is eager to have a family connection with the Darcys, |
| [11:45.23] |
so that it may be easier for her to marry Mr Darcy. |
| [11:48.58] |
So she follows her brother to London, |
| [11:51.15] |
hoping to keep him there, |
| [11:52.29] |
and tries to persuade you |
| [11:53.93] |
he doesn' t care about you. |
| [11:55.30] |
But of course he' s in love with you!' |
| [11:57.21] |
' I really can' t agree with you about Caroline. " |
| [12:00.47] |
I think she' s incapable of deceiving anyone. |
| [12:03.25] |
But Lizzy, my dear sister, |
| [12:05.35] |
even if she' s wrong about her brother, |
| [12:07.67] |
and he does care for me, |
| [12:09.44] |
could I be happy in accepting a man whose sisters and friends all wish him to marry someone else?' |
| [12:14.78] |
' You must decide for yourself," |
| [12:18.11] |
and if you consider it more important to do what his sisters want, than to gain the happiness of being his wife, |
| [12:23.50] |
I certainly advise you to refuse him.' |
| [12:26.30] |
' How can you say that?' said Jane, smiling a little. " |
| [12:30.32] |
' You know I wouldn' t hesitate," |
| [12:32.23] |
although I' d be sad if they disapproved of me. |
| [12:35.10] |
But, oh dear, if he doesn' t come back to Netherfield, |
| [12:38.61] |
I' ll never have to make the decision!' |
| [12:41.20] |
But Elizabeth was sure Mr Bingley could not be kept away from Jane by his sisters, |
| [12:46.66] |
and soon persuaded Jane to take a more hopeful view of the situation. |
| [12:51.24] |
That day the Bennets, with Mr Collins, |
| [12:55.26] |
went to dinner with the Lucas family at Lucas Lodge. |
| [12:58.38] |
Again it was Charlotte who spent most of the evening listening to Mr Collins. |
| [13:02.38] |
Elizabeth was very relieved, |
| [13:04.80] |
and thanked her friend gratefully for the trouble she was taking. |
| [13:08.27] |
But Charlotte' s kindness had a particular aim, |
| [13:12.99] |
which Elizabeth was unaware of. |
| [13:14.25] |
Her plan was to encourage Mr Collins |
| [13:17.10] |
to transfer his attentions to herself. |
| [13:19.55] |
In fact, she was managing so well that, |
| [13:22.83] |
when she said goodnight to him after dinner, |
| [13:25.62] |
she would have felt sure of success if he had been staying in Hertfordshire for another week. |
| [13:30.66] |
But she did not fully appreciate the fire and independence of his character, |
| [13:35.68] |
which caused him to get up very early the next morning and escape from Longbourn House, |
| [13:39.37] |
in a great hurry to reach Lucas Lodge and throw himself at her feet. |
| [13:45.72] |
She did not keep him waiting for an answer, |
| [13:48.64] |
and the happy couple found themselves engaged as quickly as Mr Collins' long speeches would allow. |
| [13:54.20] |
Charlotte' s parents were delighted to agree to the marriage, |
| [13:58.32] |
and Lady Lucas began to work out, with more interest than she had ever felt before |
| [14:02.45] |
how many more years Mr Bennet was likely to live. |
| [14:04.81] |
Charlotte herself was quite satisfied. |
| [14:08.19] |
Mr Collins, certainly, was neither sensible nor agreeable, |
| [14:12.8] |
but still he would be a husband. |
| [14:15.6] |
She did not think highly of men or of marriage, |
| [14:18.57] |
but she had always intended to marry. |
| [14:20.93] |
Although marriage might not always bring happiness, |
| [14:23.76] |
it was the only honourable way in which a welleducated woman with little income could provide a home for herself. |
| [14:31.65] |
Now twentyseven, and lacking beauty, |
| [14:34.33] |
she felt she was lucky to have found a husband. |
| [14:37.38] |
She knew, however, that Elizabeth, whose friendship she greatly valued, |
| [14:41.92] |
would be astonished and possibly disapproving. |
| [14:44.73] |
So she decided to go to Longbourn House to tell her friend the news herself. |
| [14:49.56] |
Elizabeth was indeed shocked at first, |
| [14:53.74] |
and could not help crying out in surprise, |
| [14:55.86] |
but when Charlotte explained her reasons for accepting Mr Collins, |
| [14:59.40] |
Elizabeth tried hard to understand. |
| [15:01.93] |
When the rest of the Bennet family heard the news, they were also astonished. |
| [15:06.73] |
Mrs Bennet was quite horrified, |
| [15:08.53] |
and could not stop complaining bitterly about Charlotte' s wickedness, |
| [15:12.93] |
Mr Collins' stupidity and Elizabeth' s obstinacy. |
| [15:16.39] |
Mr Bennet was much calmer, |
| [15:18.68] |
only saying he was pleased to discover that Charlotte, whom he used to consider quite sensible, was as foolish as his wife, |
| [15:25.88] |
and more foolish than his daughter! |
| [15:27.49] |
That day was Mr Collins' last at Longbourn, |
| [15:32.58] |
and he left with many speeches of thanks, |
| [15:35.11] |
as well as a promise to return very soon. |
| [15:37.39] |
Mr Bennet warned him to be careful |
| [15:41.63] |
not to offend his patron, |
| [15:43.99] |
by being absent from his duties too often, |
| [15:45.98] |
but Mr Collins, although extremely grateful for this sign of Mr Bennet' s cousinly affection for him, |
| [15:50.43] |
was naturally eager to return to Hertfordshire, |
| [15:53.7] |
to see his future wife. |
| [15:55.37] |
Only two weeks later he did, in fact, |
| [15:58.89] |
come back to stay at Longbourn, |
| [16:00.49] |
but spent most of his time at Lucas Lodge, |
| [16:02.54] |
making arrangements for the wedding., |
| [16:04.81] |
Mrs Bennet still felt very offended by him, |
| [16:08.54] |
but she was now becoming anxious about something even more important |
| [16:12.1] |
Mr Bingley' s continued absence. |
| [16:15.81] |
Day after day had passed with no news since the arrival of Caroline Bingley' s letter. |
| [16:20.95] |
Elizabeth was now rather worried, |
| [16:23.87] |
and Jane feared the worst. |
| [16:26.2] |
Finally a second letter arrived from Caroline Bingley, |
| [16:30.15] |
and when Jane read it, |
| [16:32.1] |
she realized that all hope was over. |
| [16:34.37] |
The Bingley family were staying in London for the whole winter, |
| [16:37.96] |
and Georgiana Darcy was a frequent member of their circle. |
| [16:42.6] |
Miss Bingley boasted joyfully of this friendship, |
| [16:45.48] |
and looked forward to her brother' s probable marriage to Miss Darcy. |
| [16:48.98] |
Although she was deeply upset, |
| [16:51.83] |
Jane bravely tried to control her feelings. |
| [16:55.20] |
' Do not worry, Lizzy," |
| [16:56.79] |
I shall be able to forget him in a while. |
| [16:59.79] |
I have nothing to complain of, |
| [17:02.23] |
as he made no promises to me. |
| [17:04.11] |
I just thought he cared for me, |
| [17:06.48] |
but I was wrong. |
| [17:07.95] |
Luckily, no one is hurt except myself.' |
| [17:10.29] |
' My dear Jane!' said Elizabeth. " |
| [17:13.90] |
' You are too good. " |
| [17:15.53] |
You always think the best of everybody. |
| [17:17.91] |
Now I think the worst of most people, |
| [17:20.8] |
and do not see much real value or common sense around me. |
| [17:23.70] |
Mr Bingley, for example. |
| [17:25.34] |
He may not be intending to hurt you, |
| [17:27.60] |
but misery can be caused by someone being just weak and indecisive. |
| [17:32.2] |
I' m convinced his sisters and his friend, Mr Darcy, are trying to influence him against you. |
| [17:37.88] |
Another example is Charlotte. |
| [17:40.36] |
I can' t understand how she could agree to marry such a selfimportant, proud, silly man!' |
| [17:45.43] |
' Dear Lizzy,' said Jane," |
| [17:48.6] |
' we must respect Charlotte' s decision. " |
| [17:50.54] |
She may well be happy with Mr Collins. |
| [17:53.10] |
And as for Mr Bingley, |
| [17:57.6] |
we shouldn' t expect a sociable young man to be so careful of his behaviour. |
| [18:00.1] |
Women often imagine admiration means more than it really does.' |
| [18:04.19] |
' And men want that to happen.'" |
| [18:07.49] |
' I prefer to believe that I was mistaken in thinking he cared for me," |
| [18:11.40] |
and that his sisters love him |
| [18:14.27] |
and approve of his wish to marry Miss Darcy. |
| [18:16.41] |
I don' t want to think badly of him or his sisters. |
| [18:19.23] |
That would be worse than anything.' |
| [18:21.68] |
Elizabeth had to accept Jane' s wishes, |
| [18:25.3] |
and from then on, Mr Bingley' s name was seldom mentioned between them. |