Pride and Prejudice

Summary Chapter 19

Mr. Collins requests Mrs. Bennet's permission to have a private audience with Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet gives her consent and quits the room. Elizabeth intends to leave also, but Mrs. Bennet orders her to stay.

Mr. Collins tells her he wishes to marry for several reasons:

1) As head of his parish, he must set an example for matrimony.

2) He believes it will make him a happier man.

3) He is following the advice of Lady de Bourgh, who has been most insistent about it. She advised him to marry a useful, modest woman-and his association with such a fine lady is one of the perks of marrying him.

4) He wishes to reconcile with the Bennet family by marrying one of the daughters so that one can share his inheritance.

Elizabeth refuses to marry him. He assumes she is doing this because it is pro