Chapter 31
Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the
Parsonage, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to
the pleasures of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days,
however, before they received any invitation thither— for while
there were visitors in the house, they could not be necessary; and
it was not till Easter-day, almost a week after the gentlemen's
arrival, that they were honoured by such an attention, and then
they were merely asked on leaving church to come there in the
evening. For the last week they had seen very little of Lady
Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the
Parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had
seen only at church. The invitation was accepted of course, and at
a proper hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine's
drawing-room. Her ladyship received them civilly, but it was plain
that their company was by no means so acceptable as when she could
get nobody else; and she was, in fact, almost engrossed by her
nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, much more than to
any other person in the room.
Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really
glad to see them; anything was a welcome relief to him at Rosings;
and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend had moreover caught his fancy very
much. He now seated himself by her, and talked so agreeably of Kent
and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying at home, of new books
and music, that Elizabeth had never been half so well entertained
in that room before; and they conversed with so much spirit and
flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, as well
as of Mr. Darcy. His eyes had been soon and
repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity; and that
her ladyship, after a while, shared the feeling, was more openly
acknowledged, for she did not scruple to call out:
"What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are
talking of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it
is." "We are speaking of music, madam," said he, when no longer
able to avoid a reply. "Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of
all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation
if you are speaking of music. There are few people in England, I
suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a
better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a
great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health had allowed her
to apply. I am confident that she would have performed
delightfully. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?" Mr. Darcy spoke
with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency. "I am very
glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady Catherine; "and
pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel if she does
not practice a good deal." "I assure you, madam," he replied, "that
she does not need such advice. She practises very constantly." "So
much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write
to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I
often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be
acquired without constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several
times, that she will never play really well unless she practises
more; and though Mrs. Collins has no instrument, she is very
welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Rosings every day,
and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson's room. She would be
in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house." Mr. Darcy
looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding, and made no
answer. When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded
Elizabeth of having promised to play to him; and she sat down
directly to the instrument. He drew a chair near her. Lady
Catherine listened to half a song, and then talked, as before, to
her other nephew; till the latter walked away from her, and making
with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte stationed
himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's
countenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first
convenient pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said:
"You mean to frighten me, Mr.
Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? I will not be
alarmed though your sister does play so
well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be
frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every
attempt to intimidate me."
"I shall not say you are mistaken," he replied, "because you could
not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and
I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know
that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions
which in fact are not your own." Elizabeth laughed heartily at this
picture of herself, and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, "Your cousin
will give you a very pretty notion of me, and teach you not to
believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meeting with a
person so able to expose my real character, in a part of the world
where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit.
Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all that
you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire— and, give me leave to
say, very impolitic too— for it is provoking me to retaliate, and
such things may come out as will shock your relations to hear." "I
am not afraid of you," said he, smilingly. "Pray let me hear what
you have to accuse him of," cried Colonel Fitzwilliam. "I should
like to know how he behaves among strangers." "You shall hear then—
but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. The first time of
my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must know, was at a ball—
and at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced only four
dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge,
more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a partner. Mr.
Darcy, you cannot deny the fact." "I had not at that time the
honour of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party."
"True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. Well,
Colonel Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers wait your
orders." "Perhaps," said Darcy, "I should have judged better, had I
sought an introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself
to strangers." "Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?" said
Elizabeth, still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him
why a man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world,
is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?" "I can answer
your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying to him. It is
because he will not give himself the trouble." "I certainly have
not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of
conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot
catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their
concerns, as I often see done."
"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do
not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so
many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do
not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it
to be my own fault— because I will not take the trouble of
practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of
superior execution."
Darcy smiled and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed
your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing
you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to
strangers." Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who
called out to know what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately
began playing again. Lady Catherine approached, and, after
listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy: "Miss Bennet would not
play at all amiss if she practised more, and could have the
advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of
fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have
been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn."
Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see
how cordially he assented to his cousin's praise; but neither at
that moment nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love;
and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss de Bourgh she derived
this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have been just as
likely to marry her, had she been his
relation.
Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance,
mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste.
Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility, and,
at the request of the gentlemen, remained at the instrument till
her ladyship's carriage was ready to take them all home.