Elizabeth tried to jo her father''s pleasantry,but could only force one most reluctant smile.Never had his wit been directed a manner so little agreeable to her.
“Are you not diverted?”
“Oh!yes.Pray read on.”
“''After mentiong the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship last night,she immediately,with her usual condescension,expressed what she felt on the occasion;when it became apparent,that on the score of some family objections on the part of my cous,she would never give her consent to what she termed so disgraceful a match.I thought it my duty to give the speediest telligence of this to my cous,that she and her noble admirer may be aware of what they are about,and not run hastily to a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned.''Mr.Colls moreover adds,''I am truly rejoiced that my cous Lydia''s sad busess has been so well hushed up,and am only concerned that their livg together before the marriage took place should be so generally known.I must not, however,neglect the duties of my station,or refra from declarg my amazement at hearg that you received the young couple to your house as soon as they were married.It was an encouragement of vice; and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should very strenuously have opposed it.You ought certaly to forgive them, as a Christian, but never to admit them your sight, or allow their names to be mentioned your hearg.''That is his notion of Christian forgiveness!The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte''s situation,and his expectation of a young olive-branch. But,Lizzy,you look as if you did not enjoy it.You are not gog to be missish,I hope,and pretend to be affronted at an idle report. For what do we live,but to make sport for our neighbours,and laugh at them our turn?”
“Oh!”cried Elizabeth,“I am excessively diverted. But it is so strange!”
“Yes—that is what makes it amusg. Had they fixed on any other man it would have been nothg;but his perfect difference, and your poted dislike, make it so delightfully absurd! Much as I abomate writg, I would not give up Mr. Colls''s correspondence for any consideration.Nay,when I read a letter of his,I cannot help givg him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my son--law. And pray,Lizzy,what said Lady Cathere about this report?Did she call to refuse her consent?”To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it had been asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by his repeatg it. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelgs appear what they were not.It was necessary to laugh,when she would rather have cried.Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by what he said of Mr. Darcy''s difference,and she could do nothg but wonder at such a want of penetration,or fear that perhaps,stead of his seeg too little, she might have fancied too much.
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