Pride and Prejudice

CHAPTER XXX.

Sir William stayed only a week, then departed convinced his daughter was comfortably settled. Collins spent mornings in the garden or his book-room, which fronted the road; the ladies sat in the backwards room and were indebted to him for knowing what carriages passed, especially Miss de Bourgh’s almost daily phaeton. Collins walked to Rosings almost daily, and his wife often thought it necessary to go likewise. Lady Catherine occasionally called, examining their employments, finding fault with the furniture, or detecting the housemaid in negligence; if she accepted refreshment, it was only to find the joints of meat too large. Elizabeth soon perceived Lady Catherine was a most active magistrate in her own parish.

Dining at Rosings was repeated about twice weekly; their other engagements were few. Elizabeth passed her time pleasantly and enjoyed the fine weather out of doors, particularly along the open grove edging the park, where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine’s curiosity.

Easter approaching, an addition to Rosings was expected: Mr. Darcy. Though not among her preferred acquaintances, his coming might amuse her in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley’s designs were. Collins, walking within view of the lodges, hurried home with the intelligence: Darcy had brought Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of Lady Catherine’s husband. Next morning the gentlemen accompanied Collins to the Parsonage. Colonel Fitzwilliam, about thirty, was in person and address most truly the gentleman; Darcy looked as usual and met Elizabeth with every appearance of composure. He spoke little, but at length inquired after her family’s health; she answered and asked whether he had seen her eldest sister in town. Sensible he never had, she wished to see whether he would betray consciousness; he answered only that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet.

CHAPTER XXXI.

The ladies felt Colonel Fitzwilliam must add considerably to their pleasure. Not till Easter-day, almost a week after the gentlemen’s arrival, were they invited on leaving church to come in the evening. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the Parsonage more than once; Darcy they had seen only at church.

At Rosings Colonel Fitzwilliam, glad of any relief, seated himself by Elizabeth and talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, travelling, books, and music that she had never been half so well entertained. Of music, Lady Catherine asked how Georgiana got on, and Darcy spoke with affectionate praise. After coffee Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of her promise to play; he drew a chair near her, and Darcy stationed himself so as to command a full view of her countenance. Elizabeth turned to him with an arch smile, saying he meant to frighten her but she would not be alarmed. Darcy replied he could not believe she entertained any design of alarming him, and had known her long enough to see she found great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions not her own. She remarked on his dancing only four dances at the first ball, when gentlemen were scarce; he answered he had not then the honour of knowing any lady beyond his own party. She asked Colonel Fitzwilliam why a man of sense and education is ill-qualified to recommend himself to strangers; he answered because Darcy will not give himself the trouble. Elizabeth remarked her fingers did not move in the masterly manner of many women’s, but she had always supposed it her own fault; Darcy smiled and said she had employed her time much better.

Lady Catherine interrupted to comment on Elizabeth’s playing, mixing instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his cousin’s praise, but could discern no symptom of love; from his behaviour to Miss de Bourgh she derived comfort for Miss Bingley.

CHAPTER XXXII.

The next morning Elizabeth was alone writing to Jane when Mr. Darcy entered, apologising for his intrusion on understanding all the ladies to be within. After inquiries after Rosings they seemed in danger of silence. Elizabeth observed how suddenly he had quitted Netherfield last November and asked whether Bingley was not much there now; he replied Bingley had many friends and engagements. She said it would be better for the neighbourhood if he gave up the place entirely, and that Darcy should not be surprised if Bingley did so. He began on the comfort of the house and Lady Catherine’s kindness to Collins; Elizabeth said Collins appeared fortunate in his choice of a wife, though marrying him was not the wisest thing Charlotte ever did. Darcy called fifty miles an easy distance; Elizabeth said she should never have considered distance among the advantages. Observing her attachment to Hertfordshire, he drew his chair slightly towards her, then drew back, took a newspaper, and asked coldly whether she was pleased with Kent. Charlotte and Maria entered, and the visit ended.

Charlotte cried he must be in love with Elizabeth, or he would never have called in such familiar way. They supposed his visit proceeded from the difficulty of finding anything to do, field sports being over; the cousins found a temptation to walk thither almost every day. Colonel Fitzwilliam came for pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him still more; why Darcy came so often was harder to understand. He could not be there for society, as he frequently sat ten minutes together without opening his lips; when he did speak, it seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice—a sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really animated. Mrs. Collins knew not what to make of him; Colonel Fitzwilliam’s occasionally laughing at his stupidity proved that he was generally different from what he now appeared. Mrs. Collins watched him whenever they were at Rosings or he came to Hunsford. He certainly looked at her friend a great deal, but the expression was disputable—an earnest, steadfast gaze that might have been admiration or merely absence. She once or twice suggested the possibility to Elizabeth, who always laughed; Charlotte did not press the subject, fearing to raise expectations that might end in disappointment, for in her opinion all Elizabeth’s dislike would vanish if she could suppose him in her power. In her kind schemes she sometimes planned Elizabeth marrying Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was eligible, beyond comparison the pleasantest man and one whose situation in life was most eligible, though Darcy had considerable patronage in the church and his cousin could have none at all.