by Eliza Gordon
After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to admire the view. Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better in the summer.
The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised. As he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her Ladyship's desire. And looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater.
He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity. Every dish was commended. First by Mr. Collins and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law said. He spoke in such a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them.
The party did not supply much conversation.
Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss de Bourgh. The former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine. The latter said not a word to her all dinner-time.
Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss de Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish.
When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, they did nothing but listen to Lady Catherine, who talked without any intermission till coffee came in. In so decisive a manner her opinion on every subject was delivered, as proved that she was not used to having her judgement controverted.
She inquired minutely into Charlotte's domestic concerns and gave her a great deal of advice about the management of them all. Told her how everything ought to be regulated in so small a family as hers, and instructed her on the care of her cows and poultry.
Nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could seem dictatorial to others.
She commented to Mrs. Collins that Elizabeth was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth. Especially to Elizabeth, of whose connections she knew the least. She asked Elizabeth, at different times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married. Whether they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mother's maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions but answered them very composedly.
Lady Catherine then said, "Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins. For your sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it. Otherwise, I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?"
"A little."
"Oh! then—some time or other we will be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to what you are used to. You must try it someday. Do your sisters play and sing?"
"One of them does."
"Why did not you all learn? You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as yours. Do you draw?"
"No, not at all."
"What, none of you?"
"Not one."
"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters."
"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London."
"Has your governess left you?"
"We never had any governess."
"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education."
Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been the case.
"Then, who taught you? Who attended to you? Without a governess, you must have been neglected."
"Compared with some families, I believe we were. But such of us as wished to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might."
"Aye, no doubt. A governess will prevent idleness. If I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means. The other day I recommended another young person, who was accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalf's calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. 'Lady Catherine,' said she, 'you have given me a treasure.' Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?"
"Yes, ma'am, all."
"All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The younger ones out before, the elder ones are married! Your younger sisters must be very young?"
"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But, ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters if they do not have their share of society and amusement. Especially when the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. The last-born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind."
"Upon my word," said her Ladyship, "you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. Pray, what is your age?"
"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth, smiling, "your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it."
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer. Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence.
"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure. Therefore you need not conceal your age."
"I am not one-and-twenty."
When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card-tables were placed.
Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrille. Miss de Bourgh chose to play at cassino. The two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party.
Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of Miss de Bourgh's being too hot or too cold or having too much or too little light.
A great deal more passed at the other table. Lady Catherine was generally speaking to state the mistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins agreed to everything her Ladyship said and thanking her for every fish he won and apologising if he thought he won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes and noble names.
The tables were broken up when Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, and the carriage offered to Mrs. Collins. While they waited for the carriage, the party gathered around the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were to have on the morrow. The arrival of the coach gave rise to many speeches of thankfulness by Mr. Collins, and as many bows on Sir William's they departed.
As soon as they had driven from the door, her cousin asked Elizabeth to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings. For Charlotte's sake, she made her account more favourable than it was. Her commendation could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he took her Ladyship's praise into his own hands.
Chapter 27
Sir William stayed only a week at Hunsford. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to driving him out and showing him the country. When he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments.
El
izabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin between breakfast and dinner. In this time he was either at work in the garden, or in reading and writing and looking out of the window in his own book-room, which fronted the road.
The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. Elizabeth had at first rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer the dining-parlour for common use; it was a better-sized room and had a more pleasant aspect. Elizabeth soon saw that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did, as the place secured her solitude and privacy. Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively. Elizabeth gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement.
From the drawing-room, they could distinguish nothing in the lane and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went along. He never failed to come an inform them of how often Miss de Bourgh drove by in her phaeton. It happened almost every day. She frequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed upon to get out.
Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings and not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise.
Now and then they were honoured with a call from her Ladyship. Nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently. Found fault with the arrangement of the furniture; or detected the housemaid in negligence. If she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family.
Though this great lady was not in commission of the peace of the county, she was a most active magistrate in her parish. The minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins. Whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented, or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty.
She was, what Elizabeth would consider, an interfering old busybody.
If it were her place Elizabeth would have some very severe words to say to this women. In this time and this place, however, everyone accepted her meddling behaviour.
The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week. Allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card-table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living in the neighbourhood, in general, was beyond Mr. Collins's reach. This was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole, she spent her time comfortably enough. There were half-hours of pleasant conversation with Charlotte. The weather was so fine for the time of year that she often had great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk where she frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine was along the open grove which edged that side of the park. There was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.
In this quiet way, the first two weeks of her visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in such a small circle must be important.
Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks. Though there were not many of her acquaintances whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one new to look at in their Rosings parties.
Wickedly, Elizabeth thought there might be amusement in watching his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined. Thereby seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were.
Lady Catherine talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction. She spoke of him with the highest admiration and seemed almost angry to find that he had already met Miss Lucas and herself.
To have the earliest knowledge of his arrival, Mr. Collins walked the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane. He hurried home with the great intelligence, so it was soon known at the Parsonage.
The following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects.
A while later Charlotte burst from her husband's room to tell the girls what an honour they might expect. She had just seen her husband crossing the road and approaching the Parsonage accompanied by two men.
"I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me."
Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment before the door-bell announced their approach. Shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Mr. Collins had the delight of welcoming the two nephews of Lady Catherine, Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he always had. He paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Collins. Whatever his feelings toward her friend, he met Elizabeth with every appearance of composure. She merely curtseyed to him without saying a word.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man and talked very pleasantly. After having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins, Darcy sat for some time without speaking to anybody. At length, his civility was so far awakened to inquire of Elizabeth after the health of her family.
She answered him in the usual way. After a moment's pause, added, "My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there?"
Elizabeth knew he never had, but she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane. He looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Jane Bennet in London. The subject was pursued no farther.
Chapter 28
Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage. The ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they received any invitation thither. On leaving the church, they were asked to come in the evening.
For the last week they had seen very little of Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the Parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had seen only at church.
The invitation was accepted, and at a proper hour, they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her Ladyship received them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else. She was almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, much more than to any other person in the room.
Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed glad to see them and particularly attentive towards Elizabeth. He seated himself by her and talked agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying at home, of new books and music. She had never been half so well entertained in that room before. They conversed with so much spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, as well as of Mr. Darcy. His eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity.
After a while, her Ladyship called out, "What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking about? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is."
"We are speaking of music, madam," said he, when no longer able to avoid a reply.
"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. Few people in England have a more true enjoyment of music than myself, or I suppose a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?"
Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency.
"I am very glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady Catherine. "Pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practice a good deal."
"I assure you, madam," he replied, "that she does not need such advice. She practises consistently."
"So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times that she will never play really well unless she practises more. Though Mrs. Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson's room. She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house."
Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding and made no answer.
When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having promised to play to him.
She sat down directly to the instrument.
He drew a chair near her.
Lady Catherine listened to half a song and then talked, as before, to Darcy, till the latter walked away.
With his usual deliberation he made his way towards the pianoforte stationed himself so as to command a full view of the performer's countenance.
Elizabeth saw what he was doing. At the first convenient pause, she turned to him with an arch smile. "You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? I will not be alarmed though your sister does play so well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me."