Mr. Collins offers his condolences to the Bennets - Pride & Prejudice (1940,1957,1967,1980,1995) 

*Series:* ru-vid.com/group/PLzcoQ_vebs-T2HiyFRu1TzCiioISLXLRq _Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxious part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters was the first grand object of every morning’s impatience. Through letters, whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated; and every succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance._ _But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived for their father, from a different quarter, from Mr. Collins; which, as Jane had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence, she accordingly read; and Elizabeth, who knew what curiosities his letters always were, looked over her, and read it likewise. It was as follows:-_ _“My dear Sir,_ _“I feel myself called upon, by our relationship, and my situation in life, to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from Hertfordshire. Be assured, my dear sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathize with you, and all your respectable family, in your present distress, which must be of the bitterest kind, because proceeding from a cause which no time can remove. No arguments shall be wanting on my part, that can alleviate so severe a misfortune; or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be, of all others, most afflicting to a parent’s mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it is the more to be lamented, because there is reason to suppose, as my dear Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence; though, at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity, at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, you are grievously to be pitied; in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others: for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family? And this consideration leads me, moreover, to reflect, with augmented satisfaction, on a certain event of last November; for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me advise you, then, my dear sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence._ _“I am, dear sir,” etc., etc._ *_Pride & Prejudice, Chapter 48_*

I don't usually approve of new scenes and dialogue being added to Austen adaptations. However, Mr. Collins' sympathy visit to the Bennets is an exception. When Lizzie makes her little speech about him guarding his reputation, and Lady Catherine's patronage, we see Collins for who he truly is.

Kitty looking in through the window 😂

Mr. Collins was obviously laughing at the Bennet family, as well as openly congratulating himself on his not having married any of the five sisters. Through this, though, he also proves himself to be no true clergyman at all (what true man of God would make a mock of and rejoice in such things?), as well as a hopeless imbecile - he may not have married any of the Bennet sisters, but he was still their relative as well as their father's heir, and so, he was actually tainted by association as well. And by telling Lady Catherine and Miss. De Bourgh all about the disgraceful matter, he not only held himself wide open to their contempt, but also put his own position in jeopardy as well. I mean, I do not know how these things work, but what if Lady Catherine decided that she did not want a clergyman whose relative had so scandalously eloped, and so took the living away from him?

1980 Lizzie does an amazing imitation of Mr. Collins. 😅