In trouble understanding contexts from Pride And Prejudice [closed]

Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was the case, and with equal sincerity could add, that she firmly believed and rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry, however, to have the recital of them interrupted by the entrance of the lady from whom they sprung. Poor Charlotte! it was melancholy to leave her to such society! But she had chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that her visitors were to go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms.

This paragraph belongs to chapter 38. I somehow could not manage to understand what the bold sentence actually means. Does that exemplify her detest towards Lady Catherine de Bourgh? Or that just shows Elizabeth's concern over her friend any one confirm that?


Mr Collins, her cousin, is described in the book as being a rather objectionable character by Elizabeth, particularly his fawning and obsequious manner. Mr Collins had at this point married Charlotte, and was living in their house near Rosings.

In this particular chapter, Mr Collins is talking about how happy he is, that he lives near Lady Catherine, has Charlotte as a wife, and has the life he has.

Elizabeth is clearly uncomfortable with him saying all this -

Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility and truth in a few short sentences.

But he doesn't take the hint and carries on:

Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.

Rather awkward to hear from a man about his wife, particularly one that proposed to Elizabeth previously!

The quote you highlight means that Mr Collins was in the middle of talking about his wife, when his wife walked in so he had to stop. Elizabeth had wanted him to stop but hadn't been able to tell him politely, so she was glad that finally he had stopped.

She was not sorry, however, to have the recital [by Mr Collins] of them [his 'home comforts'] interrupted by the entrance of the lady [Charlotte, his wife] from whom they sprung.