The Means of Uniting Them
Chapter 10
Every object in the journey to Kent was new and interesting to Elizabeth and her spirits were in a state of enjoyment for she had left Jane and her mother happy and excited, and the prospect of seeing Mary was a source of delight. When she left the high road for the lane to Hunsford, her eyes searched for the Parsonage. The palings of Rosings Park were her boundary on one side and Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants. At length the Parsonage was discernible. The garden sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales, and the laurel hedge, everything declared they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Mary appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at the small gate which led by a short gravel walk to the house. In a moment she was out of the chaise, rejoicing at the sight of her sister. Mrs. Collins welcomed Elizabeth with genuine pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with coming when she found herself so affectionately received. She noticed instantly that her cousin's manners were rather altered by his marriage; his formal civility was not as obnoxious or constant, and he only detained her for a few moments at the gate to hear and satisfy his inquiries after the family.
She was then, with no other delay than his pointing out the neatness of the entrance, taken into the house. Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised by the good proportion of the house, its aspect and its furniture, and her sister's obvious comfort in her home. She was even surprised by Mr. Collins subdued attentions. That is not to say that Mr. Collins' bowing and speeches were nonexistent but he seemed more temperate and Elizabeth could easily discern that this small but evident change was her sister's doing.
After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to the fender, to give an account of her journey, and of all that had happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the garden, which was large and well laid out, and to the cultivation of which he attended himself. To work in this garden was one of his most respectable pleasures and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance with which Mary talked of the healthfulness of the exercise, and owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out with minuteness. He could number the fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in the most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which the country or kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the prospect of Rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome modern building, well situated on rising ground. Soon, Mary insisted on taking sister over the house, to which Mr. Collins agreed and left them to it. Elizabeth gave as much praise as was do, acknowledging the comfortableness of the rooms and Mary's own touches throughout.
Elizabeth had already learnt on her arrival that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining in, observed: "Yes, Elizabeth, you will have the honor of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I doubt not but you will be honored with some portion of her notice when service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying she will include you in every invitation with which she honors us during your stay here. Her behavior to my dear Mary is charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I should say, one of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several."
"Lady Catherine is a very respectable woman indeed," added Mary, "and a most attentive neighbor."
"Very true, my dear."
Mary then asked Elizabeth to tell them all the news from Hertfordshire. Elizabeth noticed Mr. Collin's disappointment in the subject change, but was greatly surprised again to notice that he quickly recovered and entered into the current conversation – another change that Elizabeth assumed must be attributed to her sister.
That evening, Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon Mary's degree of contentment, to understand her efforts in guiding her husband, and to acknowledge that it was all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit would pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the various interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their interactions with Rosings. A lively imagination soon settled it all.
About the middle of the next day, as Elizabeth was in her room getting ready for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to send the whole house in confusion. After listening a moment, she heard somebody running upstairs in a violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened the door and met Mr. Collins in the landing place. "Elizabeth! I rushed home as soon as I could after my conference with Lady Catherine as I was sure you would want to know immediately."
"Know what, Mr. Collins?"
"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 so immediately after your arrival?!"
"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Mary who had joined them, "for it is an honor that should be shown to my sister."
"Quite right, my dear, quite right."
Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing her in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner, might not wholly overpower her. When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth— "Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear sister, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us which becomes herself and her daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest—there is no occasion for anything more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."
Elizabeth could barely contain her amusement after such a speech but she continued to her room to prepare. While she was dressing, he came two or three times down the hall, to recommend to herself and Mary to be quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner.
Elizabeth appeared down at the same time as Mary and Mr. Collins was gratified to see they would have plenty of time to walk the half-mile across the park. Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with. From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and the finished ornaments, they followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson, the companion, 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 hers, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary in the past.
Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly after the introduction. 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. When, after examining the mother, she turned her eyes on the daughter, she was all 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. 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. He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; every dish was commended. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Mary 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 was indisposed. When the party 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 inquired into Mary's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all; told her how everything ought to be regulated in so small a family as hers, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry.
Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Elizabeth, which, by Mary's rather exasperated manner, had been canvassed before by her ladyship. She asked her, at different times, if it was true she was one of five sisters, why the eldest were not married already, 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, for Mary's sake, answered them very composedly . Lady Catherine then observed, "I understand your father's estate is entailed upon Mr. Collins. Well, I am very glad that he took my advice and married within the family so as to provide relief 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. You shall try it someday. Do your sisters play and sing?"
At this question, Mary seemed to lose her composure for her eyes began to slightly roll upwards and she said in a rather exasperated tone, "If you will recall, Lady Catherine, when you asked me the same question, I answered that Elizabeth and I are the only ones who play."
"Yes, yes. I do not forget anything you know but your answer to the following question was not sufficient." And then, turning to Elizabeth she continued, "Why didn't you all learn? You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as yours. 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 and sharing a small glance with Mary as she assured Lady Catherine 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. Mary and I are both curious and learned those things of interest to us – the same could be said of our sisters."
Mary raised a small eyebrow at this but made no comment. Elizabeth was quite sure she was thinking that Kitty and Lydia had no interest in anything remotely related to improving oneself. However, the sisters' attention was drawn back by her ladyship's next speech.
"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 Metcalf'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?"
Mary's eyes actually made a full rotation with that and answered very hastily, "Yes, ma'am, all."
"Oh yes," Lady Catherine replied. "I remember. All five out at once. Very odd."
When tea was over, the card-tables were placed. Lady Catherine dominated the conversation for the rest of their visit—stating the mistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to everything her ladyship said, thanking her for every fish he won, and apologizing if he thought he won too many. When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, the tables were broken 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. and Mrs. Collins's side 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 Mary's sake, she made more favorable than it really was. He looked like her answer was not as full of praise and admiration as he would have wished but the small hand on his arm seemed to stay him and Elizabeth thought how much she enjoyed Mary's company now that she had gained confidence.
The next two weeks passed pleasantly – Elizabeth was surprised. The sisters spent most of their time indoors in the drawing-room and they were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often Miss de Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed upon to get out. Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and a few in which Mary thought it good to go alone with him. Now and then they were honored with a call from her ladyship, and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture; or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family. Elizabeth soon perceived, that though this great lady was not in commission of the peace of the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented, or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty. The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living in the neighborhood in general was beyond Mr. Collins's reach. This, however, was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time comfortably enough; there were half-hours of pleasant conversation with Mary, and the weather was so fine for the time of year that she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favorite walk, and where she frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.
Easter was approaching, and the fortnight preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. On the day before their intended arrival, Lady Catherine delivered the news that her two nephews, Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, were due to pay her a visit. She spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that Mr. Darcy had already been frequently seen by Mrs. Collins and her sister. Elizabeth heard this pronouncement with utter and complete astonishment.
"Is this a sudden visit?"
"Oh no, my nephews always come to visit me at this time of year. Their attachment to Rosings certainly increases."
Elizabeth, who had been secretly hoping that he was coming to the neighborhood just to see her was now confused beyond measure. That this visit should have been planned when they had last spoke! That he had known they would be within a mile of each other and not told her! His questions regarding the length of her stay in Kent now became clear but what of his secrecy? What were his reasons? Oh she would never figure him out. It was absolutely frustrating.
The arrival of her ladyship's nephews was soon known at the Parsonage, for Mr. Collins was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it, and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the Park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects. To the great surprise of all the party, the gentlemen accompanied Mr. Collins when he returned. Mary had seen them crossing the road, and immediately running to Elizabeth in the drawing room exclaimed, "I may thank you, Lizzy, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me."
Elizabeth had scarcely time to feel the weight of such a compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy surprised them all by paying sincere compliments to Mrs. Collins, before turning to Elizabeth and saying, "Miss Elizabeth, I am glad to see you again so soon. I hope you have been well."
Elizabeth curtseyed, as she was supposed to, and answered, "I am very well," as she was supposed to, but could only pay attention to his warm, friendly expression and his genuine interest in her wellbeing.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly with Mr. and Mrs. Collins. Mr. Darcy, though tolerably civil to his hosts, seemed unusually preoccupied with Elizabeth and talked only to her. Her journey, how she had been spending her time, her opinion of Rosings and his relations, were all inquired after with purpose. In a moment of silence, Elizabeth felt her courage return to her and she turned to Mr. Darcy with a teasing smile.
"Mr. Darcy, you were very secretive on our last meeting. You gave me no notion that you would be following me into the country. I was quite surprised."
He seemed to turn away for a moment – Elizabeth could almost call it a shy expression – before turning to her again and asking in a low voice, "Was it a pleasant surprise?"
"I – umm –"
"I did so want to surprise you. You are always so sure of those around you and I –" he must have seen something in her face that made him falter. "Are you not happy to see me?"
Elizabeth had thought she could not be any more astonished and yet, she was! He had wanted to surprise her? To catch her off guard? And he wanted her to be happy to see him? What glorious madness was this?!
Her voice, which she had meant to sound teasing and confident, came out soft and vulnerable. "I am happy to see you again. I promise."
"Good."
He seemed highly gratified with her response and soon returned to the topic of the grounds at Rosings. The gentleman stayed for a half-hour more before Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded his cousin of the time and the two gentlemen went away. Elizabeth hardly knew what to think but she let herself hope that maybe, just maybe, he thought as highly of her as she had realized she thought of him.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Look at that - two chapters in a week! This is actually me making up for the fact that I will be out of town for the next two weeks and I won't be able to post again until June. Forgive me, dear readers, and please review!