In Chapter 21, we find the lingering echoes of Mr. Collins' refused proposal still reverberating around the halls of Longbourn. Elizabeth must nurse the discomforts of unwanted attentions while her mother remains consistently ill-tempered. What follows is a series of heart-laden revelations and the shuffling of social dynamics. The elusive Mr. Wickham makes his appearance yet again, confessing to Elizabeth his self-imposed absence from the Netherfield ball to avoid an unpleasant encounter with Mr. Darcy.
Just when the Bennet sisters catch their breath following Wickham's voluntary acknowledgement of his past, a letter arrives from Caroline Bingley herself, foretelling the sudden departure of the Bingley party from Netherfield. This transmission leads to a flurry of emotions among the Bennet household, particularly between the close-knit Elizabeth and Jane. The latter finds herself conflicted between Caroline's carefully crafted insinuations of her brother’s fondness for someone else, and Elizabeth's firm belief of Jane being the true object of Mr. Bingley's affections.
In Chapter 22, we join the Bennet family dining with the Lucases, embroiled yet again in the insufferable Mr. Collins. In a startling turn of events, Mr. Collins, defying past humiliations, boldly places his heart on the matrimonial card table, gambling it in the hopes of winning the hand of Miss Lucas. Elizabeth, great friend to Charlotte, is left utterly astonished when Miss Lucas not only accepts his offer, but also seems unperturbed by her impending domestic misery.
