CHAPTER VI.

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 anti-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 right 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.