Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (top 10 books to read .txt) đź“•
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Mr. Collins.
But Madam—I——
Mrs. Bennet.
[Almost forcing Mr. Collins out of the room.] Oh, I shall very soon settle it with her, I am sure. [Mr. Collins goes out. Mrs. Bennet goes quickly to Elizabeth.] Lizzy, what is the meaning of all this? Have you refused Mr. Collins?
Elizabeth.
Yes, mamma, but please listen——
Mrs. Bennet.
[Angrily.] No, I will not listen. 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. I am going at once to the library and speak to your father. You will listen to him perhaps.
[Mrs. Bennet starts to go when she sees Mr. Bennet outside passing the glass doors. He is just returning from his walk and carries a book under his arm.]
Mrs. Bennet.
Oh, there he is now! [She runs to the door, and opens it.] Oh, Mr. Bennet—Mr. Bennet! [Mr. Bennet turns. Mrs. Bennet runs out, takes him by the arm, and tries to pull him into the room by main force. Mr. Bennet, puzzled, submits.]
Mrs. Bennet.
[While she draws Mr. Bennet into the room.] 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, Mr. Collins will change his mind and not have her.
Mr. Bennet.
I have not the pleasure of understanding you. Of what are you talking?
Mrs. Bennet.
Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy! Lizzy declares she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say he will not have Lizzy.
Mr. Bennet.
Lizzy? I thought it was Jane.
Mrs. Bennet.
No—no—It's Lizzy now!
Mr. Bennet.
Ah! And what am I to do on the occasion? It seems a hopeless business.
Mrs. Bennet.
Speak to Lizzy. There she is. [Pointing to Elizabeth at the fireplace.] Tell her that you insist upon her marrying him.
Mr. Bennet.
[Turning to Elizabeth.] Come here, child. [Elizabeth goes to her father.] This is an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage. Is this true?
Elizabeth.
Yes—papa—it—is.
Mr. Bennet.
Very well—and this offer of marriage you have refused.
Elizabeth.
I have, sir.
Mr. Bennet.
We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting him. Is it not so, Mrs. Bennet?
Mrs. Bennet.
Yes, or I will never see her again!
Mr. Bennet.
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.
ACT IIThe Conservatory or Orangery at Netherfield. On one side, an archway, approached by two or three steps and hung with curtains, separates the Orangery from the ball-room. On the opposite side is a smaller archway with curtains, which are looped back, giving a glimpse of the drawing-room beyond. There is another door on the right. Bingley is discovered directing two Footmen, who are putting a bench in place. Darcy stands watching him.
Bingley.
A little more to the right, Martin. That will do. Push those lights farther back—behind the trees. Yes, that is better. [Looking about him.] I think that is all. You may go. [The men leave the room.] Well, Darcy, do you approve of the arrangements? Have you anything to suggest? Any criticisms?
Darcy.
I have no criticisms for the arrangements.
Bingley.
[Laughing.] But you have for the ball. Yes, I know—still I was really obliged to keep my promise.
Darcy.
I am glad to find that a promise is with you an obligation.
Bingley.
Oh, come, Darcy! I understand. Set your mind at rest. I am going to London with you, although I must say I do not see the necessity for it. I think you are exaggerating the effect of any small attentions of mine toward Miss Bennet. However, we will cling together, and fly a common danger.
Darcy.
[Coldly.] Common danger?
Bingley.
[Smiling.] Yes, common danger! I, too, have eyes. Where will you match the wit and vivacity of Miss Elizabeth Bennet?
Darcy.
[Quietly.] She is indeed charming, and I admit that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, I might be in some danger. [Very coolly and confidently.] But they form, for me, an insurmountable barrier against any possible peril.
Bingley.
Love laughs at bars, Darcy! [Darcy looks annoyed.] No,—I won't! It really is not fair, since it is my fault. You would never have been put to this test if you hadn't been so good as to stay on here with me after that——
[Stopping suddenly, and with an entire change from his former bantering tone, he says in a hesitating manner.] Darcy, do you really think you should be silent about Wickham?
Darcy.
[Haughtily.] Decidedly! I do not choose to lay my private affairs before the world.
Bingley.
But the fellow is sailing under false colours. You do not know what the result may be. I really must speak of this again, Darcy, even at the risk of offending you. [Darcy makes an impatient gesture.] I am truly concerned at the foothold this rascal has already gained in the Bennet family. What he has failed to accomplish once he may succeed in again. These young ladies have no brother to defend them.
Darcy.
Neither have they the wealth to excite Wickham's cupidity. At any rate I do not wish to be the one to enlighten the neighbourhood. Besides, I understand that he has left Meryton.
Bingley.
Even so—I—— [He is interrupted by Miss Bingley, who enters gaily from the drawing-room.]
Miss Bingley.
Ah! Here you are! [To Darcy.] Will you be so kind? [She holds out her arm for him to clasp her bracelet.] Your sister Georgiana should be here, Mr. Darcy. [To her brother.] Charles, you should have insisted on her coming.
Bingley.
I am not in the habit of insisting with Darcy.
Miss Bingley.
[Laughingly.] Very true. [To Darcy, who has at length succeeded in fastening the bracelet.] Thank you. [Looking about her.] It is vastly pretty, Charles, but I am much mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball will be rather a punishment than a pleasure.
Bingley.
[Laughing.] If you mean Darcy, he may go to bed, if he pleases, before it begins.
Miss Bingley.
But, Charles, it would certainly be more rational if conversation instead of dancing were made the order of the day.
Bingley.
Much more rational, my dear Caroline, but it would not be near so much like a ball.
Martin, the Footman.
[Entering, to Bingley.] Several of the carriages have arrived, sir, and the guests will soon be entering the ball-room.
Bingley.
[To the Footman.] Very well. [To Miss Bingley.] Come Caroline, we must be at our post. We will leave Darcy to make up his mind whether he will join us later.
[Bingley and his sister disappear through the archway leading to the ball-room. Darcy does not follow them, but walks thoughtfully up and down the room. The sound of a voice is heard announcing.]
The Voice.
Mrs. Long—the Miss Longs. [A pause.] Colonel Forster and Mr. Denny. [A pause.] Mr. and Mrs. Goulding. [A pause.] Mrs. Bennet—the Miss Bennets. [Darcy stops in his walk and goes toward the ball-room archway—then he walks once more up and down.] Mrs. King—Miss King. [Darcy again moves toward the ball-room; he lifts the curtain, hesitates—looks in—then disappears.] Sir William and Lady Lucas—Miss Lucas—Mr. Robinson.
[The music now begins, the stage is left empty. After a short pause, Elizabeth and Charlotte appear between the curtains of the ball-room archway.]
Charlotte.
[Peeps in—then enters.] Isn't this pretty! Come in here for a moment, Eliza. I want to tell you something.
Elizabeth.
[Following her.] Why did I promise to dance with Mr. Darcy just now! Why did not I have more presence of mind!
[They sit on the bench together while they talk; the guests, at the back, pass to and from the drawing-room and ball-room, and the sound of music is heard faintly.]
Charlotte.
I dare say you will find him very agreeable.
Elizabeth.
Heaven forbid! That would be the greatest misfortune of all. To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such an evil.
Charlotte.
I wouldn't be a simpleton, Eliza. You are angry because Wickham is not here, but I wouldn't allow my fancy for him to make me unpleasant in the eyes of a man of ten times his consequence.
Elizabeth.
My fancy for Wickham, as you choose to call it, is simply my sympathy for a most ill-used man: also the relief of meeting with good manners and a good understanding after the insufferable pride of Mr. Darcy, and the stupid pomposity of that dreadful Mr. Collins! [Charlotte starts.] Oh, my dear Charlotte, I have never thanked you half enough for helping us to endure that man. It was so good-natured in you to sacrifice yourself by listening to those interminable speeches of his.—I am more obliged to you than I can express. But oh, what a relief it is to know that he is really gone!
Charlotte.
[Who has listened to all this tirade in increasing embarrassment.] Oh, don't! Don't, Eliza! You are making it so terribly hard for me. But,—but I must tell you.—I am engaged to Mr. Collins!
[Elizabeth is stupefied with surprise and looks at Charlotte for a moment in silent and incredulous amazement. Then with difficulty she speaks.]
Elizabeth.
Engaged! Engaged to—to Mr. Collins! Oh, my dear Charlotte—impossible! [Hopefully.] You are joking!
Charlotte.
[With spirit.] No, indeed, Eliza, I am in most serious earnest. Why should you be so surprised? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?
Elizabeth.
[Confused.] Oh, no—no—of course not. And,—and you must forgive all I have just said. I couldn't possibly have imagined——
Charlotte.
[More sweetly.] No, Eliza, indeed you could not. [She puts her hand on Elizabeth's shoulder.] And we shall be friends still?
Elizabeth.
Why, of course, of course, dear Charlotte. It was only the—the surprise. You know how fond I am of you. You know I wish you all imaginable happiness.
Charlotte.
Yes, I am sure of it. You must be surprised—very much surprised, so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry you. But, dear Eliza, when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic. I ask only a comfortable home, and, considering Mr. Collins' situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.
Elizabeth.
[In an absent manner.] Undoubtedly.
Charlotte.
[Looking at Elizabeth affectionately and wistfully.] And you will come to visit me sometimes? I could not bear to lose you, Eliza!
Elizabeth.
[Looking up, and patting Charlotte's hand.] Surely, Charlotte! [Smiling.] We are to be cousins, you know.
Charlotte.
[Cheerfully.] Why, so we are!
[Colonel Forster comes from the ball-room. Lydia and Denny enter from the drawing-room.]
Colonel Forster.
[Hurriedly going to Charlotte.] I am to have the honour of this reel, I believe, Miss Lucas.
Charlotte.
Oh yes, Colonel Forster.
[She
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