P&p

Front 1

You may perhaps be a little softened

Back 1

Dear sir

The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father, I seek to heal. Having received ordination at Easter,I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the right honourable widow lady Catherine de burg, whose bounty and beneficence has left me a valuable rectory on her estate, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship.

Front 2

Cont*

Back 2

As a clergeeman,moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in al families within the reach of my influence and thus ask that you not reject my olive branch. I assure you of my readiness to make your amiable daughters every possible ammends- but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th

Front 3

That's today

Back 3

By 4 o clock

Front 4

Clock chimes

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And shall trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday night following

Front 5

He's here

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What a fine family of daughters you have Mrs Bennet. I have heard much of their beauty, but in this instance, fame falls short of the truth. I do not doubt you seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage.

Front 6

I wish with all of my heart that it may prove so; otherwise they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly.

Back 6

I am very sensible, madam, to the hardship of my three fair cousins.

Front 7

Is it large or small, your parsonage- house, Mr Collins?

Back 7

It is a good house, Mrs Bennet, and I have a very sufficient income. I intend to marry; and in short, in seeking a re|con|ciliation with mr Bennets family, I have a wife in view

Front 8

Daughters leave the table

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I'm seeing your eldest, her lovely face has confirmed my views.

Front 9

I feel incumbent upon me to hint-that she is likely soon to be engaged

Back 9

Ah

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As to my younger daughters I can not take it upon myself to say and I can not positively answer but I do not know of any prepossession.

Back 10

Then might I not shift from the eldest to the next, equal in birth and beauty?

Front 11

I trust I may soon have two daughters married!

Back 11

May I have a private audience with Miss Elizabeth

Front 12

Now sir?

Back 12

Yes sir

Front 13

Lizzy, I insist upon you staying and hearing mr Collins mr Bennet

Back 13

Miss Elizabeth. Your modesty, so far from doing you any disservice, rather adds to your perfections. Almost as soon as I entered this splendid house I singled you out as the companion of my future life. But before I run away with my feelings on this subject, perhaps it will be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying- and moreover for coming to heartfordshire with the design of selecting a wife

Front 14

Cont*

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First: every clergeeman should we the example of matrimony in his parish

Second: it will greatly add to my happiness

Thirdly- and perhaps I ought to have mentioned this earlier- it is the advice and recommendation of my patroness Lady Catherine that I marry as soon as I can (provided I choose with discretion). Your wit and vivacity I think will be acceptable to her especially when tempered with the silence and respect which her rank will be inevitably excite.

Front 15

Cont*

Back 15

And now nothing remains but to assure in the most animated language of the violence of my affection-though no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when you are my wife

Front 16

Third; it is impossible for me to do otherwise that decline them

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I know it is not unusual for young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept; sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time. I am therefore by no means discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope to lead you to the alter before long.

Front 17

Oh and I have two more, elder daughters, Mr Collins

Back 17

And here they be. Miss Bennet, Miss Bennet.

Front 18

I wish you very happy and very rich and by refusing your hand, do all in my power to prevent you being otherwise.

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It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy of your acceptance, or that the establishment that I can offer you would be anything but highly desirable. And you should take it into further consideration that in spite of your manifold attractions, it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage may ever be made to you. I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me.

Front 19

Ah! Dinner

Back 19

Fish?

What a fine home, Mrs Bennet

Front 20

My cousin is quite as absurd as I had hoped.

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I commend your dining table and all of its furniture. And what a highly admirable dinner- I beg to know to which of my fair cousins the excellence of this cooking is owing.

Front 21

I assure you, Mr Collins , that we are very well able to keep a good cook. My daughters have nothing to do in the kitchen.

Back 21

I do beg your pardon if I have displeased you

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I am not at all offended, Mr Collins

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Please accept my unreserved apologies, Mrs Bennet

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No need, mr Collins

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Apologies mrs Bennet

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You seem very fortunate in your patroness mr Collins

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Indeed I protest that I have never in my life witnessed such affability and con|des|sion in a person of rank as I have done in lady Catherine. She is reckoned proud by many people I know, but he has spoken to me as she would to any other gentleman; she has asked me twice to dine at Rosings

Front 25

You said she is a widow? Has she any family ?

Back 25

She has only one daughter, the heiress of Rosings and of very extensive property

Front 26

Then she is better off than many girls. And is she a handsome young lady?

Back 26

Most charming. There is that in Miss Annabel de burgs features which marks her of a distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution which prevents her making that progress in many accomplishments which she can could not otherwise have failed of.

Front 27

Can I speak plainer? Do not consider me an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart/

Back 27

You are uniformly charming! And I am persuaded that my proposals will be sanctioned by the express authority of your parents.

Front 28

Congratulations on the happy prospect of your near connection.

Back 28

"Near connection" is the truth of it. Miss Elizabeth has refused, naturally, as one of such bashful modesty and genuine delicacy of character would on first proposal.

Front 29

Oh! She is a very headstrong foolish girl and does not know her own interest; but I will make her know it, you can depend

Back 29

Pardon me for interrupting you, madam; but if she is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she would altogether be so very desirable a wife. If she actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her, because if liable to such defects of temper, she could not contribute much to my fel|i|city

Front 30

Lizzy

Back 30

And I shall retire from this familial scene

Front 31

Mr Collins

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Miss Bennet

Front 32

I am surprised to see you have accepted an invitation to the netherfield ball, mr Collins

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I am of the opinion that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, can have no evil tendency; I hope to dance with all my fair cousins in the course of the evening, and I take this opportunity of soliciting your hand, Mrs Elizabeth- for the next dance, I mean

Front 33

Indeed I do

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I have discovered that there is now in the room a near relation of my patroness, Lady Catherine de burg. How wonderfully these sort of things occur!

Front 34

Prey who ?

Back 34

A Mr Darcy !

Front 35

Mr Darcy?

Back 35

Lady Catherine and Mr Darcys mother, lady Anne, were sisters. Lady Catherine's daughter will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates of Rosings and Pemberly

Front 36

You are not going to introduce yourself to mr Darcy

Back 36

Indeed I am

Front 37

I assure you Mr Darcy would consider you addressing him without introduction an impertinent freedom.

Back 37

My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world of your excellent judgement in all matters within the scope of your understanding.... In this case before us I consider myself more fitted by education and habitual study to decide on what is right.

Mr Darcy- Mr William Collins of Hunsford

Front 38

Hunsford?

Back 38

Who would have thought of my meeting the nephew of lady Catherine de burg at this private assembly

Front 39

Who indeed

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Pray, do not take my absence from your aunt as any display of lack|a|dais|ical contempt for the office or clergeeman

Front 40

Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed, and a most attentive neighbour.

Back 40

You see, cousin Elizabeth, my dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.

Front 41

Mr Collins has surrounded me in comforts. The house, furniture, neighbourhood, are all to my taste, and Lady Catherine's behaviour is most friendly and obliging.

Back 41

Now m, cousin Elizabeth: Lady Catherine has invited us to spend the evening at Rosings. Who could have foreseen such attention as this? Who could have imagined that we would receive an invitation so immediately after your arrival? Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lash Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes her self and daughter. She will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. But be quick: lady Catherine very much objects to being kept waiting for her dinner. Courage( said upper arse)

Front 42

Lady Catherine

Back 42

Your servant, sir

Front 43

I am so convinced of lady Catherine's discernment to be certain that she could never bestow a favour unworthily

Back 43

Nor could I think well of the man who should omit an occasion of testifying his respect towards any body connected with his patroness's family

Front 44

It was the prospect of good and constant society that was my chief inducement to enter the regiment here.

Back 44

I profess myself satisfied with my reception. Mr Darcy seemed pleased with the attention though he has departed

Front 45

I do not imagine he would have left so hastily, sir, had he not wished to avoid a certain gentleman

Back 45

Your meaning sir (said like .... ssssir

Front 46

Mr wickham

Back 46

Might I prevail upon you to dance with me?

Front 47

Mr Collins! I entreat you to dance with somebody else. I can introduce you to any young lady in the room

Back 47

I am perfectly indifferent to dancing; my chief object is by delicate attentions to recommend myself to you

Front 48

I protest

Back 48

There is no arguing upon such a project

Front 49

I protest

Back 49

There is no arguing upon such a project

Front 50

Mr Collins has surrounded me in comforts. The house, furniture, neighbourhood, are all to my taste, and Lady Catherine's behaviour is most friendly and obliging.

Back 50

Now my, cousin Elizabeth: Lady Catherine has invited us to spend the evening at Rosings. Who could have foreseen such attention as this? Who could have imagined that we would receive an invitation so immediately after your arrival? Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lash Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes her self and daughter. She will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. But be quick: lady Catherine very much objects to being kept waiting for her dinner. Courage( said upper arse)

Front 51

It is rather small, but well built and convenient

Back 51

Rosings, by contrast, has so many windows in the front of the house, I hesitate to conjection what the glazing originally cost the late Sir Lewis de burg. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyships carriage is regularly ordered for us- I should say, one of her ladyships carriages, for she has several

Front 52

Under such a misfortune as this, one can not see too little of ones neighbours. Assistance is impossible; condolence, insufferable. Let them triumph over us at a distance and be satisfied

Back 52

We came as soon as we heard. Mrs Collins and myself sincerely sympathise with you all. No arguments can alleviate so severe a misfortune. The death of your daughter would have