Summary:
Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas share tea while discussing Mr. Collins and their past misunderstandings. After Mr. Collins joins them, Elizabeth playfully describes him as insufferably good-natured and intolerably tenderhearted. Later that evening, Elizabeth visits her sister Mary to ask how she feels about marrying Mr. Collins. Mary admits she likes him but believes he does not notice her. Elizabeth encourages Mary to see her own worth and suggests that Mr. Collins may yet see her differently.
Here is your Story: I Ask My Sister About Marrying Mr Collins Tonight
Elizabeth had invited Charlotte Lucas to tea, and they were now in the sitting room enjoying each other’s company.
“Are you sure I am welcome here, Eliza? I would not like to anger Mr. Collins.”
“Charlotte, you are being ridiculous. He has paid us both back for our transgressions. He is not a man to hold a grudge after that.”
“Did you tell him I was coming today?”
“No.”
“I wish you had gotten his permission first.”
Elizabeth motioned for a maid. “Will you please ask Mr. Collins if he has time for tea, please, Sara?”
“Lizzy!”
Mr. Collins soon entered, and poor Charlotte Lucas looked as red as a ripe tomato.
“You summoned, cousin. Oh, good day, Miss Lucas.”
“Charlotte was distressed she might not be welcome here, sir.”
“Why ever not?” asked Mr. Collins.
“She thinks you may still harbor ill feelings because of her atrocious words in the garden.”
“But that was settled long ago. Surely this cannot be?”
Elizabeth smiled at her friend. “Forgive me, Mr. Collins. Eliza said you would feel that way. I did not trust her.”
“Can I fix you tea, Mr. Collins? Would you join us?”
“Tea sounds lovely,” he said as he took a chair.
“What else did my cousin say about me, Miss Lucas, for I should dearly like to know.”
Elizabeth smiled at her cousin. She enjoyed the man he had become. “We have not really had a chance to talk yet, sir. But I assure you I have no qualms about answering questions about you right to your imposing face.”
Mr. Collins Joins the Conversation
Mr. Collins laughed and turned to Miss Lucas. “Do you think calling my face ‘imposing’ a compliment or an insult, Miss Lucas?”
Miss Lucas looked between the two in stunned silence. She watched Mr. Collins look at Eliza and even wink.
“I can see I worried for nothing,” Charlotte answered.
“Well, since my cousin has dropped the gauntlet, so to speak. Will you ask her about me so she can prove she is not afraid to answer in my presence?”
“What is your impression of Mr. Collins, Eliza?”
Elizabeth giggled. “Such a vague question, Charlotte. Hmm, my impression.”
Elizabeth raised her chin and tapped it with her finger to pretend to consider the question. Mr. Collins folded his arms across his chest in wait. “Elizabeth can’t do anything without it being theatrical, Miss Lucas.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Now you have done it, sir. You have elicited my wrath.”
“I am all anticipation, cousin.”
“Well, Charlotte, he is insufferably good-natured, intolerably tenderhearted, insupportably considerate, and inexcusably compassionate.”
Evening Reflections
Mr. Collins and Charlotte laughed uproariously. Elizabeth was very pleased with herself. “Harsh criticisms indeed, cousin.”
“You dared to raise my ire, sir.”
“Indeed, I did. I will let you ladies get back to your visit. Cousin, Miss Lucas.”
Mr. Collins bowed and left.
“I can’t believe what I just witnessed, Eliza.”
“Are you really so surprised I can be humorous, Charlotte?”
“No. That does not surprise me in the least. Your relationship with Mr. Collins is most shocking. Is there an understanding between you?”
“No. I have no wish to marry him and I have told him as much. He is a good man, Charlotte. We misjudged him before. We are now good friends.”
Miss Lucas sipped her drink and Elizabeth could almost see the thoughts churning in her friend’s head. She still wanted to be mistress of this house. She was no longer entirely sure how she felt about that. Not that she disapproved of her friend but she not sure she was right for Mr. Collins.
That night she visited her sister Mary.
“Lizzy, what are you about?”
“I came to ask you a question.”
“It must be a horrible one for you to seek me out here.”
“It is not horrible. How do you feel about the idea of marrying Mr. Collins?”
“Do not be mean, Lizzy. Anyone with eyes can see how much he wants you.”
“I have told him I will not marry him. He has accepted it. I do not think there there is anything lacking in him, just I have no wish to stay in Hertfordshire forever.”
Elizabeth was disheartened to see the downcast look on her sister’s face. “He does not look at me.”
“Mary, you do not give him anything to see.”
“I cannot change the way I look, Lizzy.”
“Mary, you are beautiful…”
“Stop!”
“I will not. Mary, you are beautiful. You go a long way of hiding it. You dress in bland colors and you wear your hair so tight that I sometimes fear your head will crack. You wear nothing on your face. And you wrap your perfectly lovely breasts in linen to hide them from the world. It is unfair to accuse him of not noticing you.”
“It wouldn’t matter. I could never compare to any of my sisters.”
“You are quite wrong, Mary. My question is, how do you feel about Mr. Collins. I have come to care for him and do not want him being trapped by someone unworthy of him.”
“I like Mr. Collins very well.”
“I believe he needs a woman that will look up to him and value his worth. Do you think you can fit that description?”
“Of course, Lizzy. But he does not see me.”
Elizabeth smiled. “He will, Mary. I daresay he will.”
Elizabeth went next to visit her mother and saw she was very well indeed. She was at her dressing table humming a happy tune. She wished her good night and then slipped into Mr. Collins study.
“I was hoping you would join me, Elizabeth.”
“You say that every time I do, Mr. Collins.”
“And I mean it every time.”
“I just said good night to her mother and she seemed very pleased with herself. Have you a story to tell me?”
“I do. Which means this will be a simple night indeed.”
