Mr.Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his successful love; for Mrs. Bennet, having dawdled about in the vestibule to watch for the end of the conference, no sooner saw Elizabeth open the door and with quick step pass her towards the staircase, than she entered the breakfast room, and congratulated both him and herself in warm terms on the happy prospect of their nearer connection. Mr. Collins received and returned these felicitations with equal pleasure, and then proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview, with the result of which he trusted he had every reason to be satisfied, since the refusal which his cousin had stedfastly given him would naturally flow from her bashful modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character.
This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; -- she would have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to encourage him by protesting against his proposals, but she dared not to believe it, and could not help saying so.
"But depend upon it, Mr. Collins," she added, "that Lizzy shall be brought to reason. I will speak to her about it myself directly. She is a very headstrong foolish girl, and does not know her own interest; but I will make her know it."
"Pardon me for interrupting you, Madam," cried Mr. Collins; "but if she is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If therefore she actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her into accepting me, because if liable to such defects of temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity."
"Sir, you quite misunderstand me," said Mrs. Bennet, alarmed. "Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these. In every thing else she is as good natured a girl as ever lived. I will go directly to Mr. Bennet, and we shall very soon settle it with her, I am sure."
She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to her husband, called out as she entered the library,
"Oh! Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you do not make haste he will change his mind and not have her."
Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by her communication.
"I have not the pleasure of understanding you," said he, when she had finished her speech. "Of what are you talking?"
"Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy."
"And what am I to do on the occasion? -- It seems an hopeless business."
"Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her marrying him."
"Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion."
Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the library.
"Come here, child," cried her father as she appeared. "I have sent for you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage. Is it true?" Elizabeth replied that it was. "Very well -- and this offer of marriage you have refused?"
"I have, Sir."
"Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is not it so, Mrs. Bennet?"
"Yes, or I will never see her again."
"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. -- Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."
Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning; but Mrs. Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the affair as she wished, was excessively disappointed.
"What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, by talking in this way? You promised me to insist upon her marrying him."
"My dear," replied her husband, "I have two small favours to request. First, that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the present occasion; and secondly, of my room. I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as may be."
Not yet, however, in spite of her disappointment in her husband, did Mrs. Bennet give up the point. She talked to Elizabeth again and again; coaxed and threatened her by turns. She endeavoured to secure Jane in her interest but Jane with all possible mildness declined interfering; -- and Elizabeth, sometimes with real earnestness and sometimes with playful gaiety, replied to her attacks. Though her manner varied, however, her determination never did.
Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had passed. He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motive his cousin could refuse him; and though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other way. His regard for her was quite imaginary; and the possibility of her deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret.
While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas came to spend the day with them. She was met in the vestibule by Lydia, who, flying to her, cried in a half whisper, "I am glad you are come, for there is such fun here! -- What do you think has happened this morning? -- Mr. Collins has made an offer to Lizzy, and she will not have him."
Charlotte had hardly time to answer, before they were joined by Kitty, who came to tell the same news, and no sooner had they entered the breakfast-room, where Mrs. Bennet was alone, than she likewise began on the subject, calling on Miss Lucas for her compassion, and entreating her to persuade her friend Lizzy to comply with the wishes of all her family. "Pray do, my dear Miss Lucas," she added in a melancholy tone, "for nobody is on my side, nobody takes part with me, I am cruelly used, nobody feels for my poor nerves."
Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and Elizabeth.
"Aye, there she comes," continued Mrs. Bennet, "looking as unconcerned as may be, and caring no more for us than if we were at York, provided she can have her own way. -- But I tell you what, Miss Lizzy, if you take it into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, you will never get a husband at all -- and I am sure I do not know who is to maintain you when your father is dead. -- I shall not be able to keep you -- and so I warn you. -- I have done with you from this very day. -- I told you in the library, you know, that I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful children, -- Not that I have much pleasure indeed in talking to any body. People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can have no great inclination for talking. Nobody can tell what I suffer! -- But it is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied."
Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible that any attempt to reason with or sooth her would only increase the irritation. She talked on, therefore, without interruption from any of them till they were joined by Mr. Collins, who entered with an air more stately than usual, and on perceiving whom, she said to the girls,
"Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold your tongues, and let Mr. Collins and me have a little conversation together."
Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty followed, but Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all she could; and Charlotte, detained first by the civility of Mr. Collins, whose inquiries after herself and all her family were very minute, and then by a little curiosity, satisfied herself with walking to the window and pretending not to hear. In a doleful voice Mrs. Bennet thus began the projected conversation. -- "Oh! Mr. Collins!" --
"My dear Madam," replied he, "let us be for ever silent on this point. Far be it from me," he presently continued, in a voice that marked his displeasure, "to resent the behaviour of your daughter. Resignation to inevitable evils is the duty of us all; the peculiar duty of a young man who has been so fortunate as I have been in early preferment; and I trust I am resigned. Perhaps not the less so from feeling a doubt of my positive happiness had my fair cousin honoured me with her hand; for I have often observed that resignation is never so perfect as when the blessing denied begins to lose somewhat of its value in our estimation. You will not, I hope, consider me as shewing any disrespect to your family, my dear Madam, by thus withdrawing my pretensions to your daughter's favour, without having paid yourself and Mr. Bennet the compliment of requesting you to interpose your authority in my behalf. My conduct may, I fear, be objectionable in having accepted my dismission from your daughter's lips instead of your own. But we are all liable to error. I have certainly meant well through the whole affair. My object has been to secure an amiable companion for myself, with due consideration for the advantage of all your family, and if my manner has been at all reprehensible, I here beg leave to apologise."
--正文
柯林斯沉浸在自己'成功'的求婚里没多久，就被本内特太太打断了。她在门厅那磨磨蹭蹭的待着想看看求婚的结果。她一看到伊丽莎白开了门，就小步跑到楼梯上去，然后走进早餐厅，恭喜着柯林斯说，因为这下他们之间的关系可是更近了。柯林斯同样愉快得接受了她的祝贺，也恭喜了本内特太太。然后他就开始说这些会面的细节，他相信伊丽莎白拒绝他只是因为她天性娇羞的原因，所以他完全有理由对这个结果满意。
这个消息却让本内特太太有些心慌，她本来也愿意相信，女儿本意只是通过拒绝他而鼓励他继续追求，但是她不敢相信伊丽莎白会这样做，所以忍不住说：“
相信我，柯林斯先生，伊利沙白会懂事情的。我会直接跟她说。这可是是个头脑简单的倔驴，自己喜欢啥她可不知道。但是我会让她知道的。”
“抱歉打断你，太太，”柯林斯大叫道，“如果她真是头脑简单，又倔，我可不知道她还适不适合做我妻子，我结婚可是想追求幸福的。如果她真的坚持拒绝我，我们最好还是别强迫她了。她性格上假如确有这种缺点，跟她结婚也不会让我幸福的。”
“先生，你完全误解我了，”本内特太太警觉的说，“伊丽莎白只会在眼前这种事上才会倔。在其他事上面，她可是个好性格的姑娘。我直接去找本内特老爷，我确定，这件事我们很快就会跟她处理好的。”
她不等柯林斯回复就急忙跑去找她的丈夫了，一进图书馆她就大喊：”
本内特老爷！你可得快处理这件事啊！我们这边都闹翻天了。你可得过来让伊利嫁给柯林斯啊。她自己发誓说绝不会嫁给他，你要不赶快处理的话，柯林斯可就会改主意不娶她了。“
本内塔太太一进屋，本内特老爷就从书上抬起头看着她，脸上一副漠不关心的申请，一点也没有被她这番话吓到。
”我没听明白，“本内特太太一说完，他就说，”你这是在说什么事？“
“当然是柯林斯和伊利的事情。伊利已经声明了不会接受柯林斯，而柯林斯也开始说不接受伊利了。”
“那我要怎么处理这事？看起来是没辙啊。”
“你自己去跟伊利谈啊，告诉她你要她嫁给柯林斯。”
“那你去把她叫下来。我来跟她说我的意见。”
本内特太太敲了几下钟，伊丽莎白就被叫到了办公室里来。
“快过来，孩子，”伊丽莎白一出现，她老爹就大声说：“我叫你过来是有件重要的事跟你说。我听说柯林斯先生向你求婚了，是真的吗？”伊丽莎白回复说是的。“好的，然后你拒绝了？”
“是的，爸爸。”
“好的，那现在的情况是这样。你妈妈坚持你接受求婚。是这样吗，本内特太太？”
“是的，否则我就再也不要见她了。”
“现在摆在你面前的是个艰难的选择，伊丽莎白。从今天开始，你要选择跟你的父母之一成为陌生人了。你要是不嫁给柯林斯，你母亲就不会再见你了。但是你要是嫁给柯林斯的话，我就不会再见你了。”
伊丽莎白忍不住笑了，她没想到这件事来势汹汹，最后会是这个结果。而本内特太太呢，自以为本内特老爷会照着她想得来，结果此时无比失望。
“本内特老爷，你这是说的什么话？你可是答应了我要伊丽莎白嫁给柯林斯的。”
“亲爱的，”本内特老爷说，“我要请你帮我两个小忙。第一个，请你允许我自由处理这件事。第二个，请你允许我自由随用我的图书馆。如果可以的话，我希望能自己在这待会。”
尽管对本内特老爷很失望，但是本内特太太并没有放弃希望。她不停的劝伊丽莎白，又是引诱，又是威胁的。她还想让简一起劝伊丽莎白，但是简十分温和的拒绝了。而伊丽莎白呢，有时候一本正经的回应老娘的劝说，有时候又很狡黠的随口应付。尽管她应对的方式不同，但是她拒绝的决心没有改变。
而同时，柯林斯正独自回想着刚刚发生的事情。他对自己的感觉过于良好，根本没法理解她的堂妹会出于什么理由拒绝他。尽管他的自尊心受挫，但是他也没有很难受。他对于伊丽莎白的事情，很多是凭空想象的。而想到伊丽莎白可能因此受到母亲的责骂，但那也是罪有应得，他也就不再遗憾了。
本内特一家正乱糟糟的时候，夏洛特.卢卡斯小姐过来跟他们过了一天。莉迪亚在门厅见到了她，莉迪亚飞奔着过去，压着声音跟她说：“你来了我可真是太高兴了，这儿可是有件好玩的事。你猜猜今早发生了什么事？柯林斯先生向伊利求婚了！而且伊利还拒绝了他！”
夏洛特还没来得及回复，凯蒂就过来了，高兴的又说了一遍刚才的事情。她们一起来到早餐厅，本内特太太一个人坐在那儿，刚看到她们进屋，就开始向卢卡斯小姐倒苦水，说起了伊丽莎白的事情。恳请她去劝劝伊利，为这个家庭想想。“请原谅我，亲爱的卢卡斯小姐，”本内特太太惨兮兮的说，“家里没一个人支持我，没人跟我一条心，我真是被残忍利用了，都没人同情我的神经。”
夏洛特小姐刚想回答，简和伊丽莎白就进了门。
“你看看，正主过来了，”本内特太太接着说，“一副漠不关心的样子，就跟我们在约克郡一样，一点不关心我们，以为什么都能随着自己性子来。但是我可跟你说，伊利小姐，你要是决心这样拒绝每次婚约，你可是一个丈夫都找不到。我可不知道你父亲去世后，谁还能来养活你。我可是没办法养活你，我警告你，从今天开始我就跟你断绝关系！在图书馆里我就跟你说，再也不会跟你说话了，你会知道我说话算话。我可不想跟不孝顺的孩子说话，说实话，我现在跟谁都不想说话了。谁要是像我这样遭罪，可不得这样！没人知道我是怎么过来的！可现实就是这样，从没有人可怜可怜我这种老实人。”
几个闺女静静听着老娘一通抱怨，她们心里面都明白这时候要是跟她讲道理，只会让她越说越多。她就这么一直说，一直说，没有任何人打断她，直到柯林斯比平时更加一本正经的走了进来。本内特太太一看到柯林斯，就跟几个姑娘说：“
现在我可跟你们说明白了，你们谁都别说话了，让柯林斯先生和我说几句话。”
伊丽莎白悄悄地离开了屋，简和凯蒂跟着她离开了，而莉迪亚则站在原地想听听他们说些什么。而夏洛特小姐呢，开始被柯林斯一番邀请留了下来，结果柯林斯事无巨细把她家里和她的情况给问了个遍，她就有些不耐烦，但是心里又有些好奇，就走到窗前假装不听他们说话。于是本内特太太又用上惨兮兮的语气，开启了计划好的话题：“哦！柯林斯先生......“
”亲爱的太太，“柯林斯说，”这事我们还是不要再提了吧，因为我,“他接着用不悦的语气说，”决不会憎恨令媛的行为。无法避免的坏事我们都得忍受，尤其是像我这般早早就被提拔的年轻人更是如此。而且我确实忍受了。而且就算我那漂亮的堂妹答应嫁给我，可能我也会怀疑，这样我是不是会真的幸福。因为我发现，好事一旦被拒绝在我们眼里就没有价值了，这时候再接着忍受就没那么好了。亲爱的太太，我在此正式撤回对令媛的求婚。我希望你不会认为我这是有意羞辱你们，怪我没有请你和本内特老爷去强压伊丽莎白嫁给我。我听到令媛拒绝我就萌生退意，而不是听到你们拒绝才这么做，这样做恐怕会有失尊敬。但是孰能无过呢？从始至终我始终是充满好意的。我本意一直是想找个温柔的伴侣，并且适当考虑贵府的利益。如果我的做法有任何过错，请允许我在此向你们道歉。“
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