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“ I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of a serious stamp , though written solely for their benefit . It amazes me , I confess ; for certainly there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction . But I will no longer importune my young cousin . ” Then , turning to Mr . Bennet , he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon . Mr . Bennet accepted the challenge , observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements . Mrs . Bennet and her daughters apologized most civilly for Lydia’s interruption , and promised that it should not occur again , if he would resume his book ; but Mr . Collins , after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill - will , and should never resent her behaviour as any affront , seated himself at another table with Mr . Bennet , and prepared for backgammon . CHAPTER XV . MR . COLLINS was not a sensible man , and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society ; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father ; and though he belonged to one of the universities , he had merely kept the necessary terms without forming at it any useful acquaintance . The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner ; but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self - conceit of a weak head , living in retirement , and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity . A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant ; and the respect which he felt for her high rank , and his veneration for her as his patroness , mingling with a very good opinion of himself , of his authority as a clergyman , and his right as a rector , made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness , self - importance and humility . Having now a good house and a very sufficient income , he intended to marry ; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view , as he meant to choose one of the daughters , if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report . This was his plan of amends — of atonement — for inheriting their father’s estate ; and he thought it an excellent one , full of eligibility and suitableness , and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part . His plan did not vary on seeing them . Miss Bennet’s lovely face confirmed his views , and established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority ; and for the first evening she was his settled choice . The next morning , however , made an alteration ; for in a quarter of an hour’s tête - à - tête with Mrs . Bennet before breakfast , a conversation beginning with his parsonage - house , and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes , that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn , produced from her , amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement , a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on . “ As to her younger daughters , she could not take upon her to say — she could not positively answer — but she did not know of any prepossession ; — her eldest daughter she must just mention — she felt it incumbent on her to hint , was likely to be very soon engaged . ”
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