Chapter Chapter 30 · 第30章

Sir William stayed 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, 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 peace 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.

[Illustration:

“he never failed to inform them”

]

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

[Illustration:

“The gentlemen accompanied him.”

[_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]]

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 anybody.

At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to inquire 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 further, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went

away.

[Illustration:

“At Church”

]