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 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 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 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. _