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MR. Collins's triumph

in consequence of this invitation was complete. The power of displaying

the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting

them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he

had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so

soon was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension as he knew

not how to admire enough.

"I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised

by her Ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening

at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that

it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this?

Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there

(an invitation moreover including the whole party) so immediately after

your arrival!"

"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William,

"from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which

my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the Court, such

instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon." .

Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day, or next morning, but

their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in

what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants,

and so splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them. .

When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth,

.

"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel.

Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which

becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever

of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for any

thing more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being

simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."

.

While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different

doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected

to be kept waiting for her dinner. -- Such formidable accounts of her

ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas, who

had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her introduction

at Rosings with as much apprehension, as her father had done to his

presentation at St. James's. .

As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a

mile across the park. -- Every park has its beauty and its prospects;

and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in

such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was

but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of

the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally

cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh. .

When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every

moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm.

-- Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady

Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous

virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could

witness without trepidation. .

From the entrance hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous

air, the fine proportion and finished ornaments, they followed the servants

through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter,

and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. -- Her ladyship, with great condescension,

arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband

that the office of introduction should be her's, it was performed in

a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he

would have thought necessary. .

In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely

awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough

to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and

his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of

her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite

equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly.

-- Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features,

which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor

was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget

their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but

whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her

self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's

mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady

Catherine to be exactly what he had represented. .

When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment

she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on

the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at

her being so thin, and so small. There was neither in figure nor face

any likeness between the ladies. Miss De Bourgh was pale and sickly;

her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very

little, except in a low voice to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance

there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening

to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before

her eyes. .

After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows

to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties,

and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth

looking at in the summer. .

The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants,

and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as

he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table,

by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish

nothing greater. -- He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity;

and every dish was commended, first by him, and then by Sir William,

who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said, in

a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady

Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most

gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty

to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready

to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte

and Miss De Bourgh -- the former of whom was engaged in listening to

Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner time.

Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss De Bourgh

ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she were indisposed.

Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing

but eat and admire. .

When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to

be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission

till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive

a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted.

She enquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely,

and gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all;

told her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family

as her's, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry.

Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention,

which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In

the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety

of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of

whose connections she knew the least, and who, she observed to Mrs.

Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her at different

times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger

than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether

they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her

father kept, and what had been her mother's maiden name? -- Elizabeth

felt all the impertinence of her questions, but answered them very composedly.

-- Lady Catherine then observed, .

"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your

sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see

no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. -- It was not

thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. -- Do you play and

sing, Miss Bennet?" .

"A little." .

"Oh! then -- some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our

instrument is a capital one, probably superior to -- You shall try it

some day. -- Do your sisters play and sing?" .

"One of them does." .

"Why did not you all learn? -- You ought all to have learned. The

Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as your's.

-- Do you draw?" .

"No, not at all." .

"What, none of you?" .

"Not one." .

"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your

mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of

masters." .

"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London."

.

"Has your governess left you?" .

"We never had any governess." .

"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at

home without a governess! -- I never heard of such a thing. Your mother

must have been quite a slave to your education." .

Elizabeth could hardly help smiling, as she assured her that had not

been the case. .

"Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess you

must have been neglected." .

"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as

wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to

read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to

be idle, certainly might." .

"Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if

I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously

to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education

without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can

give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of

supplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed

out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through

my means; and it was but the other day that I recommended another young

person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family

are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe's

calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. "Lady

Catherine," said she, "you have given me a treasure."

Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?" .

"Yes, Ma'am, all." .

"All! -- What, all five out at once? Very odd! -- And you only the

second. -- The younger ones out before the elder are married! -- Your

younger sisters must be very young?" .

"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be

much in company. But really, Ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon

younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and

amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to

marry early. -- The last born has as good a left to the pleasures of

youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! -- I think

it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy

of mind." .

"Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion very

decidedly for so young a person. -- Pray, what is your age?" .

"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth smiling,

"your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it." .

Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer;

and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever

dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence! .

"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, -- therefore you need

not conceal your age." .

"I am not one and twenty." .

When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card tables

were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat

down to quadrille; and as Miss De Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the

two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her

party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was

uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson

expressed her fears of Miss De Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or

having too much or too little light. A great deal more passed at the

other table, Lady Catherine was generally speaking -- stating the mistakes

of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins

was employed in agreeing to every thing her Ladyship said, thanking

her for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too

many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes

and noble names. .

When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose,

the tables were broke up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins,

gratefully accepted, and immediately ordered. The party then gathered

round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were

to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by

the arrival of the coach, and with many speeches of thankfulness on

Mr. Collins's side, and as many bows on Sir William's, they departed.

As soon as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by

her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings,

which, for Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really

was. But her commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by

no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her

ladyship's praise into his own hands. .

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