Mr. Collins's triumph, 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 exact-
ly 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," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by her
ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Ros-
ings. 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 dine there (an invita-
tion, 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."
Scarcely 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 for the toilette, 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 her daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of
your clothes is superior to the rest—there is no occasion for anything more.
Lady Catherine will not think the worse 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 their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much ob-
jected to be kept waiting for her dinner. Such formidable accounts of her
ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria 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 presenta-
tion 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 cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh.
When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every mo-
ment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. Eliza-
beth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine
that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue,
and the mere stateliness of money or rank she thought she could witness
without trepidation.
From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a raptur-
ous air, the fine proportion and the finished ornaments, they followed the
servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her
daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. Her ladyship, with great conde-
scension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled 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 he would
have thought necessary.
In spite of having been at St. James's Sir William was so completely
awed by the grandeur 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 which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the
scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. 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 her self-importance, and
brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the obser-
vation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what
he represented.
When, after examining the mother, in 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 Maria's astonishment at her being
so thin and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any likeness be-
tween the ladies. Miss de Bourgh 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 was nothing remark-
able, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she said, and plac-
ing 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 look-
ing 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 had
likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her lady-
ship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater.
He carved, and ate, 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 Eliza-
beth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine seemed grat-
ified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, espe-
cially 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, and the
latter said not a word to her all dinner-time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly em-
ployed in watching how little Miss de Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some
other dish, and fearing she was indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of
the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.
When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, there was little to be done
but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission till
coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a
manner, as proved that she was not used to have her judgement controvert-
ed. She inquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely,
gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all; told her
how everything ought to be regulated in so small a family as hers, and in-
structed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that
nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, 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 Maria and Elizabeth, but es-
pecially to the latter, of whose connections she knew the least, and who she
observed to Mrs. Collins was a very genteel, 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, 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 compos-
edly. Lady Catherine then observed,
"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake,"
turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion for en-
tailing 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 shall be happy to hear you. Our in-
strument is a capital one, probably superior to——You shall try it some day.
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; 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. Four 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 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 really, ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sis-
ters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement, be-
cause 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 at the first. And to be
kept back onsuch 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 decid-
edly 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;
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 con-
ceal 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; and as 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—stating the mistakes of the three others, or relating some anec-
dote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to everything her la-
dyship said, 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.
When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose,
the tables were broken up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, grate-
fully accepted and immediately ordered. The party then gathered round the
fire to hear Lady Catherine determine 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's side
and as many bows on Sir William's they departed. As soon as they had dri-
ven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give her opin-
ion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, she made
more favourable 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.
