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
indignation would have been. “What would she have said? how would she have
behaved?” 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 tolerably 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 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 original
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
attended, 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
solitary 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
condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself; and his
disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. His attachment
excited gratitude, his general character respect; but she could not
approve him; nor could she for a moment repent her refusal, or feel the
slightest inclination ever to see him again. In her own past behaviour,
there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy
defects of her family, a subject of yet heavier chagrin. They were
hopeless of remedy. Her father, 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 indulgence, what chance could there
be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely
under Lydia’s guidance, had been always affronted 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 within 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,
heightened 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 advantage, 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 impossible 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 enquired 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.🔗