Reader’s Reflections: Even after living with him for several months, and clearly being keenly aware that he is not the most pleasant company, Charlotte seems quite content with her decision to marry Mr. Collins in exchange for security. It must increase Elizabeth’s pain exponentially, to see Charlotte so contented with her decision to marry a much more difficult-to-swallow man, who could offer her many fewer creature comforts, than the one that Elizabeth herself has just refused. Darcy, it seems, though not possessed of the easy surface-friendliness of George Wickham, is quite an honorable and even loving man, and certainly the most well-to-do she has ever met. He declared himself to have been in love with her for months; and in answer, she told him he’s the last man on earth she’d ever marry. Finding out that Bingley truly did love her sister, and that they might have been incredibly happy together, is a poor salve; it pours salt on the wounds that the truth about her family has inflicted: that their indecent behavior has brought utter shame and sadness upon herself and Jane. In all this tragedy, it’s a good thing we have the comic relief of Mr. Collins! “I think we may flatter ourselves that your Hunsford visit cannot have been entirely irksome.” Oh, please! He goes way beyond “fishing for compliments” – it’s more like “whaling for adulation” – it’s embarrassing to hear him speak! Like hearing a skinny person call herself fat, or someone with an immaculate home apologize for the mess – they just need to hear you contradict them! Thanks for listening to this reflection – I’m not a very good writer and my voice is mediocre at best – I just hope that you don’t find the listening to have been entirely irksome!