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On that head, therefore, I shall be uniformly silent: and you may

assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my

lips when we are married."

It was absolutely necessary to interrupt him now.

"You are too hasty, sir," she cried. "You forget that I have made

no answer. Let me do it without further loss of time. Accept my

thanks for the compliment you are paying me. I am very sensible

of the honour of your proposals, but it is impossible for me to

do otherwise than decline them."

"I am not now to learn," replied Mr. Collins, with a formal wave

of the hand, "that it is usual with young ladies to reject the

addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he

first applies for their favour; and that sometimes the refusal is

repeated a second or even a third time. I am, therefore, by no

means discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to

lead you to the altar ere long."