Mr. Collinswasnot a sensibleman, andthedeficiencyofnaturehadbeenbutlittleassistedbyeducationorsociety; thegreatestpartofhislifehavingbeenspentundertheguidanceofanilliterateandmiserlyfather; andthoughhebelongedtooneoftheuniversities, hehadmerelykeptthenecessaryterms, withoutformingatitanyusefulacquaintance. Thesubjectioninwhichhisfatherhadbroughthimuphadgivenhimoriginallygreathumilityofmanner; butitwasnow a gooddealcounteractedbytheself-conceitof a weakhead, livinginretirement, andtheconsequentialfeelingsofearlyandunexpectedprosperity. A fortunatechancehadrecommendedhimtoLadyCatherinedeBourghwhenthelivingofHunsfordwasvacant; andtherespectwhichhefeltforherhighrank, andhisvenerationforherashispatroness, minglingwith a verygoodopinionofhimself, ofhisauthorityas a clergyman, andhisrightas a rector, madehimaltogether a mixtureofprideandobsequiousness, self-importanceandhumility.
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Havingnow a goodhouseand a verysufficientincome, heintendedtomarry; andinseeking a reconciliationwiththeLongbournfamilyhehad a wifeinview, ashemeanttochooseoneofthedaughters, ifhefoundthemashandsomeandamiableastheywererepresentedbycommonreport. Thiswashisplanofamends—ofatonement—forinheritingtheirfather's estate; andhethoughtitanexcellentone, fullofeligibilityandsuitableness, andexcessivelygenerousanddisinterestedonhisownpart.
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Hisplandidnotvaryonseeingthem. MissBennet's lovelyfaceconfirmedhisviews, andestablishedallhisstrictestnotionsofwhatwasduetoseniority; andforthefirsteveningshewashissettledchoice. Thenextmorning, however, madeanalteration; forin a quarterofanhour's tete-a-tetewithMrs. Bennetbeforebreakfast, a conversationbeginningwithhisparsonage-house, andleadingnaturallytotheavowalofhishopes, that a mistressmightbefoundforitatLongbourn, producedfromher, amidverycomplaisantsmilesandgeneralencouragement, a cautionagainsttheveryJanehehadfixedon. "Astoheryoungerdaughters, shecouldnottakeuponhertosay—shecouldnotpositivelyanswer—butshedidnotknowofanyprepossession; hereldestdaughter, shemustjustmention—shefeltitincumbentonhertohint, waslikelytobeverysoonengaged."
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Mr. CollinshadonlytochangefromJanetoElizabeth—anditwassoondone—donewhileMrs. Bennetwasstirringthefire. Elizabeth, equallynexttoJaneinbirthandbeauty, succeededherofcourse.
Inpompousnothingsonhisside, andcivilassentsonthatofhiscousins, theirtimepassedtilltheyenteredMeryton. Theattentionoftheyoungeroneswasthennolongertobegainedbyhim. Theireyeswereimmediatelywanderingupinthestreetinquestoftheofficers, andnothinglessthan a verysmartbonnetindeed, or a reallynewmuslinin a shopwindow, couldrecallthem.
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Buttheattentionofeveryladywassooncaughtby a youngman, whomtheyhadneverseenbefore, ofmostgentlemanlikeappearance, walkingwithanotherofficerontheothersideoftheway. TheofficerwastheveryMr. DennyconcerningwhosereturnfromLondonLydiacametoinquire, andhebowedastheypassed. Allwerestruckwiththestranger's air, allwonderedwhohecouldbe; andKittyandLydia, determinedifpossibletofindout, ledthewayacrossthestreet, underpretenseofwantingsomethinginanoppositeshop, andfortunatelyhadjustgainedthepavementwhenthetwogentlemen, turningback, hadreachedthesamespot. Mr. Dennyaddressedthemdirectly, andentreatedpermissiontointroducehisfriend, Mr. Wickham, whohadreturnedwithhimthedaybeforefromtown, andhewashappytosayhadaccepted a commissionintheircorps. Thiswasexactlyasitshouldbe; fortheyoungmanwantedonlyregimentalstomakehimcompletelycharming. Hisappearancewasgreatlyinhisfavour; hehadallthebestpartofbeauty, a finecountenance, a goodfigure, andverypleasingaddress. Theintroductionwasfolloweduponhissideby a happyreadinessofconversation—a readinessatthesametimeperfectlycorrectandunassuming; andthewholepartywerestillstandingandtalkingtogetherveryagreeably, whenthesoundofhorsesdrewtheirnotice, andDarcyandBingleywereseenridingdownthestreet. Ondistinguishingtheladiesofthegroup, thetwogentlemencamedirectlytowardsthem, andbegantheusualcivilities. Bingleywastheprincipalspokesman, andMissBennettheprincipalobject. Hewasthen, hesaid, onhiswaytoLongbournonpurposetoinquireafterher. Mr. Darcycorroborateditwith a bow, andwasbeginningtodeterminenottofixhiseyesonElizabeth, whentheyweresuddenlyarrestedbythesightofthestranger, andElizabethhappeningtoseethecountenanceofbothastheylookedateachother, wasallastonishmentattheeffectofthemeeting. Bothchangedcolour, onelookedwhite, theotherred. Mr. Wickham, after a fewmoments, touchedhishat—a salutationwhichMr. Darcyjustdeignedtoreturn. Whatcouldbethemeaningofit? Itwasimpossibletoimagine; itwasimpossiblenottolongtoknow.
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Inanotherminute, Mr. Bingley, butwithoutseemingtohavenoticedwhatpassed, tookleaveandrodeonwithhisfriend.