Pride and Prejudice - Vol 2, Chapters 5-9

Chapter 5 Every object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to Elizabeth, and her spirits were in a state for enjoyment. For she had seen her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health, and the prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight. When they left the high road for the land Hunsford, every eye was in search of the parsinage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. The paling of Rosing's park was their boundary on one side. Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants. At length the parsinage was discernible. The gardens sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales and the laurel hedge, everything declared they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Charlotte appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at the small gate, which led by a short gravel walk to the house, emits the nods and smiles of the whole party. In a moment they were all out of the shades, rejoicing at the sight of each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the liveliest pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with coming when she found herself so affectionately received. She saw instantly that her cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage. His formal civility was just what it had been, and he detained her some minutes of the gate to hear and satisfy his inquiries after all her family. They were then, with no other delay, than his pointing out the neatness of the entrance, taken into the house, and as soon as they were in the parlor he welcomed them a second time, with ostentatious formality to his humble abode, and punctually repeated all his wife's offers of refreshment. Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory, and she could not help fan-seeing that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its aspect and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him. But though everything seemed neat and comfortable, she was not able to gratify him by any sigh of repentance, and rather looked with wonder at her friend that she could have so cheerful and air, with such a companion. When Mr. Collins, at anything of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not seldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush, but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear. After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the side board to the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the garden, which was large and while laid out, and to the cultivation of which he attended himself. To work in his garden was one of his most respectable pleasures, and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance, with which Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the exercise, and known she encouraged it as much as possible. Here leading the way through every walk, in frostwalk, and scarcely allowing them an interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out with a minute-ness, which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in the most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which the country, or the kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the prospect of rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park, nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome modern building, while situated on rising ground. From his garden, Mr. Collins would have led them round his two meadows, but the ladies, not having shoes to encounter their mains of a white frost, turned back, and while Sir William accompanied him, Charlotte took her sister and friend over the house, extremely well pleased, probably, to have the opportunity of showing it without her husband's help. It was rather small, but well built and convenient, and everything was fitted up and arranged with a neatness and consistency of which Elizabeth gave Charlotte all the credit. When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was really a great air of comfort throughout, and by Charlotte's evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed, he must be often forgotten. He had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining in observed, yes, Mrs. Elizabeth, you will have the honor of seeing Lady Catherine to berg on the ensuing Sunday at church. And I need not say, you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension. And I doubt not, but you will be honored with some portion of her notice when service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister Mariah in every invitation, with which she honors us during your stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I should say one of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several. Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed at a Charlotte, and a most attentive neighbour. Very true my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference. The evening was spent chiefly in talking over hurt for true news, and telling again what had been already written. And when it closed, Elizabeth and the solitude of her chamber had to meditate upon Charlotte's degree of contentment. To understand her address and guiding and composure in bearing with her husband, and to acknowledge that it was all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit would pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexatious interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gays of their inner course with Rosings, a lively imagination soon settled at all. At the middle of the next day, as she was in her room getting ready for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in confusion. And after listening a moment, she heard somebody running upstairs in a violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened the door and met Mariah in the landing place, who breathless with agitation, cried out, oh my dear Eliza, pray make haste and come into the dining-room, for there is such a sight to be seen. I will not tell you what it is, make haste and come down this moment. Elizabeth asked questions in vain. Mariah would tell her nothing more, and down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted the lane in quest of this wonder. It was two ladies stopping in a low fanton at the garden gate. And is this all, cried Elizabeth? I expected at least that the pigs were gotten to the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her daughter. My dear, said Mariah, quite shocked at the mistake, it is not Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them. The other is Mr. Berg. Only look at her, she is quite a little creature. Who would have thought she could be so thin and small? She is abominantly rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind. Why does she not come in? Oh, Charlotte says she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of favors when Mr. Berg comes in. I like her appearance, said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. She looks sickly in cross. Yes, she will do for him very well. She will make him a very proper wife. Mr. Collins and Charlotte are both standing at the gate in conversation with the ladies. And Sir William, to Elizabeth's high diversion, was stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness before him, and constantly bowing whenever Mr. Berg looked that way. At length there was nothing more to be said, the ladies drove on, and the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins, no sooner saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which Charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked to die in at Rosings the next day. Chapter 6 Mr. Collins triumphed in consequence of this invitation was complete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife was exactly what he had wished for. And that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon, was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension as he knew not how to admire enough. I confess that he, that I should not have been at all surprised by her leaderships asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected from my knowledge of her affability that it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to die in there, an invitation moreover, including the whole party, so immediately after your arrival? I am the less surprised at what has happened, replied Sir William, from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire, about the court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon. Scarsely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning, but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them. When the ladies were separating from the toilet, he said to Elizabeth, do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you, merely to put on whatever of your clothes, a superior to the rest. There is no occasion for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worst of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved. While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different doors to recommend there being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. Such formidable accounts of her leadership and her manner of living quite frightened Mariah Lucas, who had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosings, with as much apprehension as her father had done to his presentation at St. James's. As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park. Every park has its beauty and its prospects, and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with. Though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally caused Sir Louis to burge. When they ascended the steps to the hall, Mariah's alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful for many extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank, she thought she could witness without trepidation. From the entrance hall of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapture as air, the fine proportion and finished ornaments, they followed the servants through an anti-chamber to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. Her leadership, with great condescension, arose to receive them, and as Mrs. Collins unsettled it with her husband that the office of introduction should be hers, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks, which she would have thought necessary. In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed by the granders surrounding him that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow and take his seat without saying a word. And his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing what to eat a look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene and could observe the three ladies before her composably. Lady Catherine was a tall large woman, with strongly marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them, such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence, but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked herself importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind. And from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented. Then, after examining the mother and whose countenance and deportment, she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the daughter. She could almost have joined in Mariah's astonishment at her being so thin and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any likeness between the ladies. Mr. Burg was pale and sickly. Her features, though not plain, were insignificant. And she spoke very little, except in a low voice to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there is nothing remarkable, and who is entirely engaged in listening to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes. 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 worth looking at 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. And, as he likewise foretold, he took a 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 in eight and praised with delighted alacrity, and every dish was commended first by him, and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But 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 Mr. Berg, the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Mr. Berg ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she were indisposed. Mariah thought, speaking out of the question, and the gentleman did nothing but eat and admire. When the lady's return to the drawing room, there was little to be done, but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission until coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment contraverted. She inquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of the mall. Told her how everything ought to be regulated and so small a family of hers, and instructed her as to the care for cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's tension, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Mariah and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter of whose connections she knew the least and who she observed to Mrs. Collins was a very gentile, pretty kind of girl. She asked her 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, whether 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 composably. Lady Catherine then observed, Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake, turning to Charlotte, I'm glad of it. But otherwise I see no occasion for entailing a state from the female line. It was not thought necessary and Sir Louis de Berg's family. Do you play and sing, Miss Bennett? A little. Oh, then sometime or other, we shall be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to, you shall 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 Webb's all play, and their father has not so good and income is yours. Do you draw? No, not at all. But 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. My 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 wish to learn never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle certainly might. I, no doubt, but that is what a governess will prevent. And 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. More nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means. And it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe'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 Bennett? 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 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 really, ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. The last born has his good or 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 words at her leadership, you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. Pray, what is your age? With three younger sisters grown up, reply to Elizabeth Smiling, your leadership can hardly expect me to own it. The Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer. And 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 in twenty. When the gentleman had joined them and tea was over, the card tables were placed. The Catherine's, her William and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadril. And as Mr. Berg chose to play Casino, the two girls at the honor of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make a per party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarsely ascillable was uttered that did not relate to the game except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of Mr. Berg's being too hot or too cold or having too much or too little light. A great deal more pasted the other table. Lady Catherine was generally speaking, stating the mistakes of the three others or relating some anecdote to herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to everything her leadership said, thanking her for every fish he won, and apologizing if he thought he won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes and noble names. When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, the tables were broke up. The carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted and immediately ordered. The party then gathered round the fire, to her Lady Catherine determined what weather they were to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by the arrival of the coach, and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. Collins' side, and as many boughs on Sir Williams, they departed. As soon as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, she made more favorable than it really was. But her commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her Ladyship's praise into his own hands. Chapter 7 Sir William stayed only a week at Hunsford, but his visit was long enough to convince him of his daughters being most comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbor as her not often met with. While Sir Williams was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to driving out in his gig and showing him the country. But when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin by the alteration. For the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by him, either at work in the garden or in reading and writing, and looking out of window in his own bookroom, which fronted the road. The room in which the lady sat was backwards. Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer the dining-parler for common use, and it was a better-sized room, and had a pleasanter aspect. But she soon saw that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did. For Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively, and she 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, and oh often especially Mr. Burg drove by in her fainting, which she never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. She not infrequently stopped at the percentage, and had a few minutes conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed on 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. Until Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings to be disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now and then they were honored with a call from her leadership, and 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 house-made in negligence, and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Collins' joints of meat were too large for her family. Elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was not in the commission of the piece for the county, she was most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins, and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silenced their complaints, and sculled them into harmony and plenty. The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week, and allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counter-part of the first. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living of the neighborhood in general was beyond the Collins' reach. This however was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time comfortably enough. There were half-hours of pleasant conversation with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of the year that she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favorite walk, and where she frequently went, while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was an ice- 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 fortnight 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 so small a circle must be important. Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of her acquaintances whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings' parties, and she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were by his behavior to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Catherine, who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself. His arrival was soon known at the parcinage, for Mr. Collins was walking the whole morning within view of the lodge's opening into Hunsford Lane in order to have the earliest assurance of it, and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his uncle, and to the great surprise of all the party when Mr. Collins returned the gentleman accompanied him. Charlotte had seen them from her husband's room, crossing the road, and immediately running into the other, told the girls what an honor they might expect, adding, I may think you allize 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 their approach was announced by the doorbell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. 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 had been used to look in hurt-friture, paid his compliments with his usual reserve to Mrs. Collins and whatever might be his feelings towards her friend met her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely curtsy to him, without saying a word. Colonel Fitzwilliam entered in conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly. At his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to anybody. At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to inquire of Elizabeth after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual way, and after a moment's pause added, My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there? She was perfectly sensible that he never had, but she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Binglies and Jane. And she thought he looked a little confused, as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennett. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentleman soon afterwards went away. CHAPTER 8 If Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the parsinage, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasure of their engagements at Rosings, it was some days, however, before they received any invitation, dither, for while there were visitors in the house, they could not be necessary. And it was not till Easter day, almost a week after the gentleman's arrival, that they were honored by such an attention. And then they were merely asked on leaving church to come there in the evening. For the last week they'd seen very little of either Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called that the parsinage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they'd only seen it church. The invitation was accepted, of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing room. Her leadership received them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else. And she was, in fact, almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, much more than to any other person in the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them. Anything was a welcome relief to him at Rosings, and Mrs. Collins, pretty friend, had more over-caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her and talked so agreeably of Kent and Hurtfordshire, of traveling and staying at home of new books and music that Elizabeth had never been half so well-entained in that room before. And 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, and that her leadership after a while shared the feeling was more openly acknowledged, for she did not scruple to call out. What is that you were saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you were talking of? What are you telling Ms. Bennett? Let me hear what it is. We are speaking of music, Madame, said he, when no longer able to avoid a reply. Of music, then praise begalowed. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. There are a few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learned, I should have been a great proficient, and so would Anne of 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, and pray tell her for me that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practice a great deal. I assure you, Madame, he replied, that she does not need such advice. She practices very constantly. 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 Ms. Bennett several times that she will never play really well unless she practices more. Even 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 piano forte in Mrs. Jenkins' 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, and 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 her other nephew, to the latter walked away from her, and moving with his usual deliberation towards the piano forte stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's countenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first convenient pause turned to him with an arch smile and said, You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? But 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 with every attempt to intimidate me. I shall not say that you are mistaken, he replied, because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you. And I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own. Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of me and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meeting with a person so well able to expose my real character in a part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to my disadvantage and hurt for sure and give me leave to say, very impolitic, too, for it is provoking me to retaliate and such things may come out as we'll shock your relations to hear. I am not afraid of you," said he smilingly. Pray, let me hear what you have to accuse him of, Craig Colonel Fitzwilliam. I should like to know how he behaves among strangers. You shall hear then, but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. The first time of my ever seeing him in hurt for sure, you must know was at a ball. And at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced only four dances. I am sorry to pain you, but so it was. He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce, and my certain knowledge, more than one young lady, was sitting down in want of a partner. Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny the fact. I had not at that time the honor of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party. True, and nobody can ever be introduced in a ballroom. Well, Colonel Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers weight your orders. Perhaps, said Darcy, I should have judged better, had I sought an introduction, but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers. Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this, said Elizabeth, still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam? Shall we ask him why a man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers? I can answer your question, said Fitzwilliam, without applying to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble. I certainly have not the talent, which some people possess, said Darcy, of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done. My fingers, said Elizabeth, do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner, which I see so many women's too. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault, because I would not take the trouble of practicing. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution. Darcy smiled and said, you are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither thus perform to strangers. Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. Lady Catherine approached, and after listening for a few minutes said Darcy, Miss Bennett would not play at all a miss if she practiced more, and could have the advantage of a London master. She is a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn. Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he ascended to his cousin's praise, but neither at that moment, nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love. And from the whole of his behavior to Mr. Berg, she derived this comfort from his Bingley, that he might have been just as likely to marry her, had she been his relation. Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received him with all the four barrens of civility, and at the request of the gentleman remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was ready to take them all home. Chapter 9 Elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning and writing to Jane, while Mrs. Collins and Mariah were gone on business into the village, when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a visitor. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to be Lady Catherine, and under that apprehension was putting away her half-finished letter, that she might escape all in pertinent questions when the door opened, and to her very great surprise, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy only entered the room. He seemed astonished too on finding her alone and apologized for his intrusion, by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies to be within. They then sat down, and when her inquiries of rosings were made seemed in danger of sinking into total silence. It was absolutely necessary, therefore, to think of something, and in this emergence, recollecting when she had seen him last in Hertfordshire, and feeling curious to know what he would say on the subject of their hasty departure, she observed, How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy, it must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Bingley, to see you all after him so soon. If I recollect right, he went but the day before, he and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London. Perfectly so, I thank you. She found that she was to receive no other answer, and after a short pause added, I think I have understood that Mr. Bingley has not much idea of ever returning to Netherfield again. I have never heard him say so, but it is probable that he may spend very little of his time there in the future. His many friends, and he is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing. If he means to be but little at Netherfield, it would be better for the neighborhood that he should give up the place entirely, for them we might possibly get a settled family there. But perhaps Mr. Bingley did not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighborhood as for his own, and we must expect him to keep or quit it on the same principle. I should not be surprised, said Darcy, if he were to give it up as soon as any eligible purchase offers. Elizabeth made no answer. She was afraid of talking longer of his friend, and having nothing to say was now determined to leave the trouble of finding a subject to him. He took the hint, and soon began with, this seems a very comfortable house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. Collins first came to Hunsford. I believe she did, and I am sure she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful object. Mr. Collins appears very fortunate in his choice of a wife. Yes, indeed, his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him, or have made him happy if they had. My friend has an excellent understanding, though I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however, and in a prudential light, it is certainly a very good match for her. It must be very agreeable to her to be settled within so easy a distance of her own family and friends. An easy distance, to you, to you, is nearly 50 miles. And what is 50 miles of good road? Little more than half a day's journey. Yes, I call it a very easy distance. I should never have considered the distance as one of the advantages of the match, right, Elizabeth. I should never have said Mrs. Collins was settled near her family. It is proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond the very neighborhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far. As he spoke, there is a sort of smile which Elizabeth fancied she understood. He must be supposing her to be thinking of Jane in Netherfield, and she blushed as she answered, I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her family. The fall and the near must be relative, and depend on many varying circumstances. Where there is fortune to make the expensive traveling unimportant, distance becomes no evil. But that is not the case here. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have a comfortable income, but not such a one as will allow frequent journeys, and I am persuaded my friend would not call herself near her family, under less than half, the present distance. Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her and said, you cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment. You cannot have been always at Longbourn. Elizabeth looks surprised. The gentleman experienced some change of feeling. He drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and glancing over it, said in a colder voice, are you pleased with Kent? A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side calm and concise, and soon put an end to by the entrance of Charlotte and her sister just returned from their walk. The Tadatette surprised them. Mr. Darcy related the mistake which would occasion his intruding on Miss Bennett, and after sitting a few minutes longer, without saying much to anybody, went away. What can be the meaning of this, said Charlotte, as soon as he was gone? My dear Eliza, he must be in love with you, or you would never have called on us in this familiar way. But when Elizabeth told of his silence, it did not seem very likely, even to Charlotte's wishes, to be the case. And after various conjectures, they could at last only suppose his visit, to proceed from the difficulty of finding anything to do, which was the more probable from the time of year. All field sports were over. More than doors there was Lady Catherine, books, and a billiard table, but gentlemen cannot be always within doors. And in the nearness of the parsinage, or the pleasantness of the walk to it, or of the people who lived in it, the two cousins found a temptation from this period of walking thither almost every day. They called it various times of the morning, sometimes separately, sometimes together, and now and then accompanied by their aunt. It was plain to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam came, because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him still more. And Elizabeth was reminded by her own satisfaction and being with him, as well as by his evident admiration of her, of her former favorite, George Wickham. And though in comparing them, she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners. She believed he might have the best informed mind. But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the parsinage, it was more difficult to understand. It could not be for society, as he frequently sat there ten minutes together without opening his lips. And when he did speak, it seemed the effect of necessity rather than a choice, a sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really animated. Mrs. Collins knew not what to make of him. Colonel Fitzwilliam's occasional laughing in his stupidity proved that he was generally different, which her own knowledge of him could not have told her. And as she would have liked to believe this change, the effect of love, and the object of that love, her friend Eliza, she sat seriously to work to find it out. She watched him whenever they were at rosings and whenever he came to Hunsford, but without much success. He certainly looked at her friend a great deal, but the expression of that look was disputable. It was an earnest, steadfast gaze, but she often doubted whether there were much admiration in it, and sometimes it seemed nothing but absence of mind. It once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of his being partial to her. But Elizabeth always laughed at the idea, and Mrs. Collins did not think it right to press the subject from the danger of raising expectations, which might only end in disappointment. For in her opinion, it admitted not of a doubt that all her friends dislike would vanish if she could suppose him to be in her power. In her kind schemes for Elizabeth, she sometimes planned her marrying Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was beyond comparison the pleasantest man. He certainly admired her, and a situation in life was most eligible. But to counterbalance these advantages, Mr. Darcy had considerable patronage in the church, and his cousin could have none at all.