817페이지 중 138페이지

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth--and it was

soon done--done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire.

Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded

her of course.

Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might

soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not

bear to speak of the day before, was now high in her good graces.

Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten: every

sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to

attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious

to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither

Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast, and there he would

continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the

collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little

cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings

discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been

always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as

he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other

room in the house, he was used to be free from them there: his

civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to

join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact

much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well

pleased to close his large book, and go.