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
expressed 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 everything 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 connection 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 assure 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 designed 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 Charlotte! 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 housekeeping, 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 parting 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. _