Pride and Prejudice cover
Courtship

Pride and Prejudice

Austen, Jane · 1998 · 18 min

Elizabeth’s Continued Skepticism

Elizabeth warmly avows her faith in Bingley’s sincerity but refuses to be convinced by assurances alone.…

Mr. Collins’s Discovery of the Connection

Mr. Collins, in great exultation, comes up to inform Elizabeth that he has just discovered a near relation of his patroness to be in the room.…

Elizabeth Tries to Dissuade Him

Elizabeth tries hard to dissuade him. She points out that Darcy would regard an uninvited address as impertinent rather than a compliment to his aunt, that no notice is necessary…

Mr. Collins Addresses Mr. Darcy

Mr. Collins listens politely but replies that the established forms of the laity differ from those of the clergy, that the clerical office is equal in dignity to the highest rank…

CHAPITRE XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII. At the Netherfield ball, the evening unfolds through a series of mortifying family exhibitions. Mr. Collins reports favorably on Darcy’s reception of him, while Elizabeth turns her thoughts to Jane and Bingley’s budding attachment. Mrs.…

Mr. Collins Praises Darcy’s Reception

Mr. Collins assures Elizabeth that he has no reason to be dissatisfied with his reception, reporting that Mr. Darcy seemed much pleased with the attention.…

Elizabeth Turns Her Thoughts to Jane and Bingley

With no interest of her own to pursue, Elizabeth turns her attention almost entirely to Jane and Mr. Bingley.…

Mrs. Bennet Discusses Jane’s Expected Marriage

Elizabeth perceives that her mother’s thoughts are bent the same way toward Jane and Bingley, and she determines to keep her distance to avoid hearing too much.…

Elizabeth Tries to Silence Her Mother

Elizabeth tries in vain to check the rapidity of her mother’s words or persuade her to speak in a less audible whisper.…

Mary Begins to Sing

After supper, singing is talked of, and Elizabeth suffers the mortification of seeing Mary, after very little entreaty, preparing to oblige the company.…

Mary’s Second Song and Mr. Bennet’s Interruption

Mary’s powers are by no means fitted for such a display; her voice is weak and her manner affected, leaving Elizabeth in agonies.…

Mr. Collins Lectures on a Clergyman’s Duties

Others of the party are now applied to, and Mr. Collins declares that if he could sing, he should have great pleasure in obliging the company, as he considers music an innocent di…

Elizabeth’s Mortification at Her Family

Elizabeth feels that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as possible during the evening, they could not have played their parts with more spirit or finer…

Mr. Collins’s Persistent Attention to Elizabeth

The rest of the evening brings Elizabeth little amusement, as she is teased by Mr. Collins, who continues most perseveringly by her side.…

Darcy’s Distant Silence Toward Elizabeth

Elizabeth is at least free from the offence of Mr. Darcy’s further notice. Though he often stands within a very short distance of her, quite disengaged, he never comes near enough…

The Longbourn Party Waits to Depart

The Longbourn party are the last of all the company to depart, and by a manoeuvre of Mrs. Bennet they have to wait for their carriage a quarter of an hour after everybody else is…

Mrs. Bennet’s Plans for Her Daughters

At length the party arises to take leave, and Mrs. Bennet is most pressingly civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon at Longbourn, assuring Bingley how happy he would ma…

CHAPITRE XIX.

Chapter XIX depicts Mr. Collins’s formal proposal to Elizabeth Bennet. Set entirely at Longbourn after breakfast, the chapter follows his methodical, pompous declaration of intent, his enumeration of reasons for matrimony including Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s advice and the Longb…

Mr. Collins Requests a Private Audience

The morning after Collins’s arrival, he loses no time in declaring himself, seeking a private audience with Elizabeth to propose marriage. Approaching Mrs.…

Mrs. Bennet’s Eager Consent

Mrs. Bennet immediately and enthusiastically consents, certain that Elizabeth will be delighted.…

The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.

Project Gutenberg