Volume 1: Chapter 22 Summary

The following day, the Lucases and the Bennets dine together. During the entire day, Charlotte Lucas is so kind as to listen patiently to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth thanks her friends, and Charlotte assures her that she does not mind. Her intentions however, are different from Elizabeth suspects. Charlotte Lucas hopes to procure an offer of marriage from Mr. Collins. Her plan meets with obvious success, for the next morning, Mr. Collins goes to her house and proposes to her. She accepts gratefully, knowing that her plain appearance and average family status makes the possibility of her dying an old maid a real one. Thus, while she does not care for Mr. Collins, she is satisfied to have a husband. When Elizabeth hears the news from Charlotte, she is shocked. Charlotte prevails on her to understand that she is not romantic, and...