CHAPTER XIV.

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 right

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 right

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.