Work Text:
Mary eyed the tall, grave parson demurely through her lashes. She was rather impressed with his heavy-looking countenance and extremely formal manners. Mr. Collins addressed a compliment to her mother "on having so fine a family of daughters" and Mary was delighted to have been included in his respectful glance over them all. When he subsequently mentioned that "he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth" Mary was smitten.
Mr. Collins displayed a level of gallantry Mary was unused to among the local populace, and which she found very appealing. She did not believe it was vanity which drew her. Keeping both vanity and pride under good regulation were important to the disposition and deportment of a proper gentlewoman according to Reverend Fordyce. Mary strived daily to be a virtuous woman. No, she convinced herself that it was not vanity or pride that drew her in.
Unlike her father, who typically chose to tease rather than guide the women of the family, Mr. Collins chose to attempt to calm Mrs. Bennet's fears over the entail. Mary felt his words were well delivered, as Mr. Collins gently remarked, "I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, but, perhaps, when we are better acquainted——” That he did not single out any of the Bennet daughters in particular before coming to know them displayed a great deal of sense in Mary's opinion.
While Mary would not in general wish to put herself forward, by the end of the first meal with her cousin, she knew she must have a quiet word with her mother. If Mrs. Bennet was the one to put her forward, there would be no question of Mary's failing to comport herself with modesty. As both Jane and Mrs. Bennet were interested in a match with Mr. Bingley, Mary did not feel her mother would object to coming to Mary's aid. Especially, once Mary pointed out how much better suited to a match with Mr. Collins she would be over any of her other sisters. Mary loved all her sisters, but reserved and meek -- as she would point out Reverend Fordyce encouraged young women to be -- did not at all describe the spirited Elizabeth or lively Lydia. And whilst Kitty may be somewhat meek, she was enough like Lydia to not be serious enough to succeed as a parson's wife. No, Mary was certain that she was the Bennet daughter most suited to Mr. Collins. Yes, Mary would convince Mrs. Bennet of the advantages when the ladies separated after the meal.
Mary would also emulate Mr. Collins in providing reassurance to her mother regarding the entail. A kind remark on how much Mary would look forward to having her mother's advice when Mr. Collins took possession of Longbourn should do the trick. She was certain that Mrs. Bennet would do her utmost to put Mary forward and convince Mr. Collins for her own sake even more so than Mary's.
After the gentlemen rejoined the ladies for tea, Mr. Bennet invited Mr. Collins to read aloud. Mary rejoiced in the smile and knowing nod that Mrs. Bennet gave her following Mr. Collins' choice of reading material. Mary's earlier words on which daughter was best suited to the parson were now cemented in her mother's mind. Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women would forever remain Mary Bennet's -- the future Mrs. Collins' -- favorite book.