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They were then, with no other delay than his pointing out the

neatness of the entrance, taken into the house; and as soon as

they were in the parlour, he welcomed them a second time, with

ostentatious formality, to his humble abode, and punctually

repeated all his wife's offers of refreshment.

Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not

help fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room,

its aspect, and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly

to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in

refusing him. But though everything seemed neat and comfortable,

she was not able to gratify him by any sigh of repentance; and

rather looked with wonder at her friend, that she could have so

cheerful an air with such a companion. When Mr. Collins said

anything of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which

certainly was not seldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on

Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in

general Charlotte wisely did not hear. After sitting long enough

to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the

sideboard to the fender, to give an account of their journey, and

of all that had happened in London, Mr.