Chapter 7
Sir William staid only a week at Hunsford; but his
visit was long enough to convince him of his daughter’s being most
comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a husband and such
a neighbour as were not often met with. While Sir William was with
them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to driving him out in his
gig,aq and
showing him the country: but when he went away, the whole family
returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was thankful to
find that they did not see more of her cousin by the alteration;
for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now
passed by him either at work in the garden, or in reading and
writing, and looking out of window in his own book room, which
fronted the road. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards.
Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not
prefer the dining parlour for common use; it was a better sized
room, and had a pleasanter aspect: but she soon saw that her friend
had an excellent reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins would
undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment had they sat
in one equally lively; and she gave Charlotte credit for the
arrangement.
From the drawing-room they could distinguish
nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the
knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often especially
Miss De Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed
coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. She
not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes’
conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed on to
get out.
Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not
walk to Rosings, and not many in which his wife did not think it
necessary to go likewise; and till Elizabeth recollected that there
might be other family livings to be disposed of, she could not
understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now and then they were
honoured with a call from her Ladyship, and nothing escaped her
observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She
examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised
them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the
furniture, or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she
accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of
finding out that Mrs. Collins’s joints of meat were too large for
her family.
Elizabeth soon perceived, that though this great
lady was not in the commission of the peacear for
the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the
minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins; and
whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome,
discontented, or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to
settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them
into harmony and plenty.
The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated
about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and
there being only one card-table in the evening, every such
entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other
engagements were few; as the style of living of the neighbourhood
in general was beyond the Collinses’ reach. This, however, was no
evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time
comfortably enough: there were half hours of pleasant conversation
with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year,
that she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite
walk, and where she frequently went while the others were calling
on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side
of the park where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one
seemed to value but herself, and where she felt beyond the reach of
Lady Catherine’s curiosity.
In this quiet way the first fortnight of her visit
soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it
was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so
small a circle must be important. Elizabeth had heard, soon after
her arrival, that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a
few weeks; and though there were not many of her acquaintance whom
she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one comparatively new
to look at in their Rosings parties, and she might be amused in
seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley’s designs on him were, by his
behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady
Catherine; who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction,
spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost
angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss
Lucas and herself.
His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage; for
Mr. Collins was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges
opening into Hunsford Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance
of it; and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the
park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following
morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects. There were two
nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for Mr. Darcy had
brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his
uncle, Lord—; and, to the great surprise of all the party, when Mr.
Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte had seen
them from her husband’s room, crossing the road, and immediately
running into the other, told the girls what an honour they might
expect, adding,—
“I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of
civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon
me.”
Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right
to the compliment before their approach was announced by the
door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the
room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not
handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr.
Darcy looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire,
paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Collins; and
whatever might be his feelings towards her friend, met her with
every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely courtesied to him,
without saying a word.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation
directly, with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and
talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a
slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for
some time without speaking to any body. At length, however, his
civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Elizabeth after the
health of her family. She answered him in the usual way; and, after
a moment’s pause, added,—
“My eldest sister has been in town these three
months. Have you never happened to see her there?”
She was perfectly sensible that he never had: but
she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what
had passed between the Bingleys and Jane; and she thought he looked
a little confused as he answered that he had never been so
fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no
farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.