On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few
minutes before the others appeared; and he took the opportunity of paying
the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary.
"I know not, Miss Elizabeth," said he, "whether Mrs. Collins has yet ex-
pressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us; but I am very certain
you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks for it. The favor
of your company has been much felt, I assure you. We know how little there
is to tempt anyone to our humble abode. Our plain manner of living, our
small rooms and few domestics, and the little we see of the world, must
make Hunsford extremely dull to a young lady like yourself; but I hope you
will believe us grateful for the condescension, and that we have done every-
thing in our power to prevent your spending your time unpleasantly."
Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness. She
had spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being with
Charlotte, and the kind attentions she had received, must make her feel the
obliged. Mr. Collins was gratified, and with a more smiling solemnity
replied:
"It gives me great pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not
disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and most fortunately having
it in our power to introduce you to very superior society, and, from our con-
nection with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the humble home
scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Hunsford visit cannot have
been entirely irksome. Our situation with regard to Lady Catherine's family
is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage and blessing which few can
boast. You see on what a footing we are. You see how continually we are
engaged there. In truth I must acknowledge that, with all the disadvantages
of this humble parsonage, I should not think anyone abiding in it an object
of compassion, while they are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings."
Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was
obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility and
truth in a few short sentences.
"You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into Hertfordshire,
my dear cousin. I flatter myself at least that you will be able to do so. Lady
Catherine's great attentions to Mrs. Collins you have been a daily witness
of; and altogether I trust it does not appear that your friend has drawn an
unfortunate—but on this point it will be as well to be silent. Only let me as-
sure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially
wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one
mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable
resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been de-
signed for each other."
Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was
the case, and with equal sincerity could add, that she firmly believed and
rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry, however, to have the
recital of them interrupted by the lady from whom they sprang. Poor Char-
lotte! it was melancholy to leave her to such society! But she had chosen it
with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that her visitors were to
go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her home and her housekeep-
ing, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet
lost their charms.
At length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on, the parcels
placed within, and it was pronounced to be ready. After an affectionate part-
ing between the friends, Elizabeth was attended to the carriage by Mr.
Collins, and as they walked down the garden he was commissioning her
with his best respects to all her family, not forgetting his thanks for the
kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and his compliments
to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown. He then handed her in, Maria
followed, and the door was on the point of being closed, when he suddenly
reminded them, with some consternation, that they had hitherto forgotten to
leave any message for the ladies at Rosings.
"But," he added, "you will of course wish to have your humble respects
delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you while
you have been here."
Elizabeth made no objection; the door was then allowed to be shut, and
the carriage drove off.
"Good gracious!" cried Maria, after a few minutes' silence, "it seems but
a day or two since we first came! and yet how many things have happened!"
"A great many indeed," said her companion with a sigh.
"We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice!
How much I shall have to tell!"
Elizabeth added privately, "And how much I shall have to conceal!"
Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm;
and within four hours of their leaving Hunsford they reached Mr. Gardiner's
house, where they were to remain a few days.
Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her
spirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her aunt had
reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her, and at Longbourn
there would be leisure enough for observation.
It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she could wait even for
Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals. To know
that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish
Jane, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own
vanity she had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation to
openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision in
which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate; and
her fear, if she once entered on the subject, of being hurried into repeating
something of Bingley which might only grieve her sister further.
