Mr. Collins' Begins

     On finding Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth, and one of the younger girls together soon after breakfast, he addressed the mother in these words,
``May I hope, Madam, for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth, when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the course of this morning?''
Before Elizabeth had time for any thing but a blush of surprise, Mrs. Bennet instantly answered,
``Oh dear! -- Yes -- certainly. -- I am sure Lizzy will be very happy -- I am sure she can have no objection. -- Come, Kitty, I want you up stairs.'' And gathering her work together, she was hastening away, when Elizabeth called out,
``Dear Ma'am, do not go. -- I beg you will not go. -- Mr. Collins must excuse me. -- He can have nothing to say to me that any body need not hear. I am going away myself.''
``No, no, nonsense, Lizzy. -- I desire you will stay where you are.''

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 Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Volume 1 ch. 19

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     Jane Austen's tone is so humorous. She catches the reader by surprise, as she does her character Elizabeth, with the unwanted interruption of Mr. Collins. That surprise, and the dragging on of the guessed proposal, makes the situation ironically awkward and entertaining. Mrs. Bennet... she's one of those characters that the reader simply has a love/hate relationship with, for she is forceful and does her best to embarrass Elizabeth continually, but at the same time, she is naive and truly wants her daughter to be married and taken care of. She's so funny in her rushed, bustling manner, another reason why one cannot remain cross with her.
     The additional body in the room, Kitty, one of the younger sisters who does not like Mr. Collins either (so she must feel for Elizabeth), makes for a more tense tone. Elizabeth undoubtedly wants Kitty to stay with her so she does not have to remain alone with Mr. Collins, but Kitty is helplessly dragged out by her mother. Oh the embarrassment! Oh the awkward feels! Oh, so goes the magical world of Jane Austen!