The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning, and Mr. Collins having
been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was
able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very good
health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the melancholy
scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then hastened, to
console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return brought back,
with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, importing that she felt
herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with
her.
Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had she
chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as her future
niece; nor could she think, without a smile, of what her ladyship's indigna-
tion would have been. "What would she have said? how would she have be-
haved?" were questions with which she amused herself.
Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party. "I assure you,
I feel it exceedingly," said Lady Catherine; "I believe no one feels the loss
of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly attached to these young
men, and know them to be so much attached to me! They were excessively
sorry to go! But so they always are. The dear Colonel rallied his spirits tol-
erably till just at last; but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely, more, I
think, than last year. His attachment to Rosings certainly increases."
Mr. Collins had a compliment, and an allusion to throw in here, which
were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter.
Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet seemed out of
spirits, and immediately accounting for it by herself, by supposing that she
did not like to go home again so soon, she added:
"But if that is the case, you must write to your mother and beg that you
may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your company, I
am sure."
"I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation," replied
Elizabeth, "but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in town next
Saturday."
"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected
you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There can
be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly spare
you for another fortnight."
"But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return."
"Oh! your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters
are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay
another month complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as
London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as Dawson does
not object to the barouche-box, there will be very good room for one of you
—and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I should not object
to taking you both, as you are neither of you large."
"You are all kindness, madam; but I believe we must abide by our origi-
nal plan."
Lady Catherine seemed resigned. "Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant
with them. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of
two young women travelling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You
must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world to
that sort of thing. Young women should always be properly guarded and at-
tended, according to their situation in life. When my niece Georgiana went
to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her having two men-servants go
with her. Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, and Lady
Anne, could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner. I am
excessively attentive to all those things. You must send John with the young
ladies, Mrs. Collins. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it; for it would
really be discreditable to you to let them go alone."
"My uncle is to send a servant for us."
"Oh! Your uncle! He keeps a man-servant, does he? I am very glad you
have somebody who thinks of these things. Where shall you change horses?
Oh! Bromley, of course. If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be
attended to."
Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey,
and as she did not answer them all herself, attention was necessary, which
Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her; or, with a mind so occupied, she
might have forgotten where she was. Reflection must be reserved for soli-
tary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it as the greatest relief;
and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which she might indulge
in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.
Mr. Darcy's letter she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She
studied every sentence; and her feelings towards its writer were at times
widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, she was
still full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly she had con-
demned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself; and his
disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. His attachment ex-
cited gratitude, his general character respect; but she could not approve
him; nor could she for a moment repent her refusal, or feel the slightest in-
clination ever to see him again. In her own past behaviour, there was a con-
stant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy defects of her fami-
ly, a subject of yet heavier chagrin. They were hopeless of remedy. Her fa-
ther, contented with laughing at them, would never exert himself to restrain
the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters; and her mother, with manners
so far from right herself, was entirely insensible of the evil. Elizabeth had
frequently united with Jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of
Catherine and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother's indul-
gence, what chance could there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirit-
ed, irritable, and completely under Lydia's guidance, had been always af-
fronted by their advice; and Lydia, self-willed and careless, would scarcely
give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an
officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was with-
in a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there forever.
Anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing concern; and Mr. Darcy's
explanation, by restoring Bingley to all her former good opinion, height-
ened the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved to have been
sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could attach to the
implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How grievous then was the
thought that, of a situation so desirable in every respect, so replete with ad-
vantage, so promising for happiness, Jane had been deprived, by the folly
and indecorum of her own family!
When to these recollections was added the development of Wickham's
character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had seldom
been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it almost im-
possible for her to appear tolerably cheerful.
Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week of
her stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent there; and
her ladyship again inquired minutely into the particulars of their journey,
gave them directions as to the best method of packing, and was so urgent on
the necessity of placing gowns in the only right way, that Maria thought
herself obliged, on her return, to undo all the work of the morning, and pack
her trunk afresh.
When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension, wished
them a good journey, and invited them to come to Hunsford again next
year; and Miss de Bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out
her hand to both.
