Wednesday, September

Wednesday, September

Most recently Mr. Collins the cousin of my father sent a letter informing that he shall soon be stopping to boarder with us. At first mother was quite excited that a young, single, and fairly well-off man was entering our home; a home where young, single ladies who were looking for a husband were currently living. Then father with a much amused face informed mother in that the dear Mr. Collins would be the man to turn us ladies out of the house once he had passed. “ Oh! My dear, pray do not talk of this odious man,” (pg. 50) were mother’s exact words. Within the next week Mr. Collins arrived and settled in to the guest room of our home, mother eyeing him through his whole first week.

So as the days carried on, I realized that Mr. Collins most certainly was eyeing me and today my most extreme fret was confirmed. Mr. Collins asked me for my hand. “I was horrified at the thought of marrying a man whose only skill with a knife was cutting slivers off gorgonzola” (pg. 71). I attempted to explain to Mr. Collins that it was impossible for me to do anything other than decline his proposal, but he refused to listen. Mr. Collins told me that it is not unusual for young ladies to decline the ones they secretly mean to accept. With a none but harsh tone I said, “ I am perfectly serious in my refusal.” (pg. 85) At this point in time I withdrew from the breakfast -room that contained Mr. Collins, as he began on a second proposal. I could no longer listen to his pathetic pleading in hopes that I would revise my current answer.

Mother had dawdled about on the other side of the door of the breakfast-room impatiently waiting the end result of the conference. When she heard the offer that I was refusing, she rushed to father. Father was unmoved at the situation, which had occurred this morning. Concluding that if I were to marry Mr. Collins that he would never see me again, so in the end it was decided that I would not take Mr. Collins hand in marriage. Which left me one of the happiest ladies in the house at that moment.