Chapter 23

           Elizabethwassittingwithhermotherandsisters,reflectingonwhatshehadheard,anddoubtingwhethershewasauthorisedtomentionit,whenSirWilliamLucashimselfappeared,sentbyhisdaughter,toannounceherengagementtothefamily. Withmanycomplimentstothem,andmuchself-gratulationontheprospectofaconnectionbetweenthehouses,heunfoldedthemattertoanaudiencenotmerelywondering,butincredulous; forMrs.Bennet,withmoreperseverancethanpoliteness,protestedhemustbeentirelymistaken;andLydia,alwaysunguardedandoftenuncivil,boisterouslyexclaimed: 

           "GoodLord! SirWilliam,howcanyoutellsuchastory? DonotyouknowthatMr.CollinswantstomarryLizzy?" 

           Nothinglessthanthecomplaisanceofacourtiercouldhavebornewithoutangersuchtreatment; butSirWilliam’sgoodbreedingcarriedhimthroughitall; andthoughhebeggedleavetobepositiveastothetruthofhisinformation,helistenedtoalltheirimpertinencewiththemostforbearingcourtesy. 

           Elizabeth,feelingitincumbentonhertorelievehimfromsounpleasantasituation,nowputherselfforwardtoconfirmhisaccount,bymentioningherpriorknowledgeofitfromCharlotteherself; andendeavouredtoputastoptotheexclamationsofhermotherandsistersbytheearnestnessofhercongratulationstoSirWilliam,inwhichshewasreadilyjoinedbyJane,andbymakingavarietyofremarksonthehappinessthatmightbeexpectedfromthematch,theexcellentcharacterofMr.Collins,andtheconvenientdistanceofHunsfordfromLondon. 

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