My Pleasure Reading. Pride and Prejudice. Chapters XIX - XXIII. - V (Volume II)

The XIX chapter begins with shocking for some people and pleasant for other ones news. Mr. Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth. Her mother sees it as the way to save their poor situation while Elizabeth, with support of Jane and the father, refuses to accept it by any means. However, Mr. Collins doesn’t seem to be very disappointed and soon makes another proposal to the Bennet’s neighbors -  Charlotte Lucas who accepts it with pleasure. Meanwhile Elizabeth’s relationships with Wickham are developing and they meet in Meryton where he apologises for his absence in the ball.  To Jane’s disappointment, which she hides studiously, Mr. Bingley and his company leave Netherfield Park  for London. Miss Bingley writes that there is no chance that they return thus showing that there is no point for Jane to hope for marriage with her brother. Trying to cheer up her dear sister, Jane tries to find disproof of it, but month after month result in the opposite. Mrs. Bennet’s brother, Mr. Gardiner, comes to stay with the family. Seeing Jane so upset, he supposes her to live with him and his wife in London for month, and she accepts it with pleasure, hoping for the meeting with Mr. Bingley. However, during her staying in London, she sees Miss Bingley only once and the latter shows her unwillingness to keep in touch. Meanwhile, Elizabeth finds out that Mr. Wickham is not so “honest” as he tries to establish reputation for himself. He begins to court another girl who becomes heiress of considerable amount of money. Elizabeth agrees to visit Mr. Collins and her friend Charlotte, in attempt to escape all these unpleasant thoughts and her mother’s reproach.