Pride and Prejudice Volume 1, Chapter 22

The Bennets dine with the Lucases and Charlotte tolerates Mr. Collins well, which Elizabeth appreciates. What Elizabeth and the rest of the Bennets do not know is that Charlotte hopes to win Mr. Collins over and get a proposal for herself. Mr. Collins returns to the Lucases home the next morning and proposes, but Charlotte insists that she be the one to tell the Bennets because she wants to warn Elizabeth first. Mr. Collins leaves the Bennets home the next morning to head back to his parish, but he promises to return very, very soon, to the disappointment of Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet, however, takes that to mean that he's interested in one of her younger daughters, and she is happy that Elizabeth didn't ruin everything for them.

Charlotte comes over after breakfast and tells Elizabeth that she is engaged to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth is shocked and disappointed that her friend would marry such an obnoxious fool. But Charlotte expects a comfortable life with Mr. Collins and aspires to nothing greater. Elizabeth feels that their friendship is quite altered by Charlotte's decision, but she tries to move past her complete disgust.