Chapter 14
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,aw 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 postax 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
development 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 courtesy and hold out her hand to both.