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Quote 7. Your portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications. As I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in your rejection of me, I shall choose to attribute it to your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according to the usual practice of elegant females. Explanation and Analysis. In this excruciating scene, Mr. Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth, and, as she attempts to reject the proposal again and again, simply brushes off the rejection. He knows that he is rich and Elizabeth comparatively poor: everything he has been taught tells him that there can be no rational reason for her to reject his offer (only the more irrational question of love and suitability). Mr. Collins is blinded by this businesslike and rationalistic (though in his defense quite widespread) understanding of marriage. He even weighs Elizabeth's beauty and amiability against her paltry income to conclude that he must be right. Mr. Collins's speech grows increasingly ridiculous from beginning to end. He finally does bring in evidence from more romantic sources, but only as further evidence in his favor, as he refuses to believe he can fail to see the truth. By portraying Mr. Collins as so utterly blind and silly in his stubbornness, Austen reminds us that considering marriage as a business transaction can lead to truly awkward consequences - even if she does not embrace the other extreme of passionate love.