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THE two gentlemen

left Rosings the next morning; and Mr. Collins having been in waiting

near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was able to bring

home the pleasing intelligence of their appearing in very good health,

and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the melancholy

scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then hastened to

console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return brought back,

with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, importing that she

felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to

dine with her.

Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had

she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as her

future niece; nor could she think, without a smile, of what her ladyship's

indignation would have been. "What would she have said? -- how would

she have behaved?" were questions with which she amused herself.

Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party. -- "I

assure you, I feel it exceedingly," said Lady Catherine; "I believe

nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly

attached to these young men; and know them to be so much attached to

me! -- They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The

dear colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy

seemed to feel it most acutely, more I think than last year. His attachment

to Rosings, certainly increases." .

Mr. Collins had a compliment, and an allusion to throw in here, which

were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter. .

Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet seemed out

of spirits; and immediately accounting for it herself, by supposing

that she did not like to go home again so soon, she added, .

"But if that is the case, you must write to your mother to beg that

you may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your

company, I am sure." .

"I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation," replied

Elizabeth, "but it is not in my power to accept it. -- I must be in

town next Saturday." .

"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected

you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There

can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly

spare you for another fortnight." .

"But my father cannot. -- He wrote last week to hurry my return."

.

"Oh! your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. --

Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will

stay another month complete, it will be in my power to take one of you

as far as London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and

as Dawson does not object to the Barouche box, there will be very good

room for one of you -- and indeed, if the weather should happen to be

cool, I should not object to taking you both, as you are neither of

you large." .

"You are all kindness, Madam; but I believe we must abide by our

original plan." .

Lady Catherine seemed resigned. .

"Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant with them. You know I always

speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of two young women travelling

post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send

somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world to that sort of thing.

-- Young women should always be properly guarded and attended, according

to their situation in life. When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate

last summer, I made a point of her having two men servants go with her.

-- Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, and Lady Anne,

could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner. -- I am

excessively attentive to all those things. You must send John with the

young ladies, Mrs. Collins. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it;

for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go alone."

.

"My uncle is to send a servant for us." .

"Oh! -- Your uncle! -- He keeps a man-servant, does he? -- I am very

glad you have somebody who thinks of those things. Where shall you change

horses? -- Oh! Bromley, of course. -- If you mention my name at the

Bell, you will be attended to." .

Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey,

and as she did not answer them all herself, attention was necessary,

which Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her, or, with a mind so occupied,

she might have forgotten where she was. Reflection must be reserved

for solitary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it as the

greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which

she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections. .

Mr. Darcy's letter, she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart.

She studied every sentence: and her feelings towards its writer were

at times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address,

she was still full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly

she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself;

and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. His attachment

excited gratitude, his general character respect; but she could not

approve him; nor could she for a moment repent her refusal, or feel

the slightest inclination ever to see him again. In her own past behaviour,

there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy

defects of her family a subject of yet heavier chagrin. They were hopeless

of remedy. Her father, contented with laughing at them, would never

exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters;

and her mother, with manners so far from left herself, was entirely

insensible of the evil. Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in

an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia; but while

they were supported by their mother's indulgence, what chance could

there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely

under Lydia's guidance, had been always affronted by their advice; and

Lydia, self-willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing.

They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton,

they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn,

they would be going there for ever. .

Anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing concern, and Mr. Darcy's

explanation, by restoring Bingley to all her former good opinion, heightened

the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved to have been

sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could attach

to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How grievous then

was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every respect,

so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness, Jane had been

deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family! .

When to these recollections was added the developement of Wickham's

character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had

seldom been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it

almost impossible for her to appear tolerably cheerful. .

Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week

of her stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent

there; and her Ladyship again enquired minutely into the particulars

of their journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing,

and was so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only left

way, that Maria thought herself obliged, on her return, to undo all

the work of the morning, and pack her trunk afresh. .

When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension, wished

them a good journey, and invited them to come to Hunsford again next

year; and Miss De Bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold

out her hand to both. .

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