The Means of Uniting Them

Chapter 11

The gentleman's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, and the ladies felt that they must add considerably to the pleasures of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they received any invitation thither. It was not till the next Sunday, almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honored by such an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church to come there in the evening. For the last few days they had seen very little of Lady Catherine or her daughter but Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy had called at the Parsonage twice during that time, always pleasant and accommodating.

The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact, almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Mr. Darcy, much more than to any other person in the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them; anything was a welcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins's pretty sister had moreover caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her, and talked agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying at home, of new books and music; and they conversed with so much spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Mr. Darcy.

His eyes had repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity which soon turned to annoyance. What was the Colonel thinking? To be so friendly and open. And what was Elizabeth thinking? To so encourage him! Did she not understand that he could not give his aunt the smallest suspicion? He couldn't just devote himself to Elizabeth's entertainment alone. Darcy felt thoroughly vexed and slightly hurt.

Elizabeth, who had caught Mr. Darcy's eye on multiple occasions, wondered why he looked so dour. Did he not understand that she was trying to be pleasant to his relations? It was obvious that the cousins were very close and she wanted the Colonel's approval of her. Could she not enjoy another man's innocent company? Elizabeth felt thoroughly confused and slightly disgruntled.

Her ladyship, after a while, noticed what Mr. Darcy was already very aware of and called out: "What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is."

"We are speaking of music, madam," said he, when no longer able to avoid a reply.

"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?"

Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency.

"I am very glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady Catherine; "and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practice a good deal."

"I assure you, madam," he replied, "that she does not need such advice. She practices very constantly."

"So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times, that she will never play really well unless she practices more; and though Mrs. Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson's room. She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house."

Mr. Darcy looked ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding. He caught Elizabeth's eye and shrugged slightly as if to apologize and then, gathering his courage and schooling his features and tone to exude nonchalance, he spoke aloud: "I believe Miss Bennet practices just the right amount, for I find her playing very enjoyable. In fact," at this he turned to Elizabeth and smiled gently, "Miss Bennet, would you honor us with a song?"

Colonel Fitzwilliam may have had a moment where he wondered at his cousin's blatant flattery in front of their aunt but he quickly voiced his agreement with the scheme and encouraged her to play. Elizabeth sat down directly to the instrument and, before Darcy could extricate himself from Lady Catherine, Colonel Fitzwilliam drew a chair near her. Darcy began to feel that something would have to be said to his cousin – he couldn't keep monopolizing Elizabeth this way.

Lady Catherine listened to half a song, and then talked, as before, to her nephew till Darcy could stand it no more and walked away from her. With his usual deliberation, he made his way towards the pianoforte and stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's countenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first convenient pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said: "You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? I will not be alarmed though Miss Darcy does play so well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me."

"I shall not say you are mistaken," he replied, "because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own."

Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, "Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meeting with a person so able to expose my real character, in a part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit." She looked back up into Mr. Darcy's face and smiled sweetly, but he was not deceived. He knew, by now, what that delightful twinkle in her eye and the slight arch of her eyebrow meant. "Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire—and, give me leave to say, very impolitic too—for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such things may come out as will shock your relations to hear."

"I am not afraid of you," said he, smilingly.

"Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of," cried Colonel Fitzwilliam. "I should like to know how he behaves among strangers."

"You shall hear then—but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must know, was at a ball—and at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a partner. Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny the fact."

His smile grew as he indulged her teasing. "I had not at that time the honor of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party."

"True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. Well, Colonel Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders."

No! Darcy wanted to scream at her. He wanted her attention back on him. "Perhaps," said Darcy, "I should have judged better, had I sought an introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers."

"Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?" said Elizabeth, still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him why a handsome man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?"

"I can answer your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble."

Darcy had to use every ounce of control not to jump for joy at Elizabeth's response (she had called him handsome! And intelligent!) or to roll his eyes at his cousin. "I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before."

"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I will not take the trouble of practicing. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution."

Darcy smiled – there was the quick mind which he adored – and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers."

Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again, quite sure that everyone in the room could hear her violently beating heart. She knew he was speaking of her playing when he said that no one could find anything wanting but it felt like, she felt like, he was saying that she was perfect. She focused her eyes on the music sheets in front of her.

Darcy was quite pleased with himself and was in the midst of congratulating himself on pleasantly embarrassing her with compliments again when Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to the room: "Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practiced more, and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn."

Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his cousin's praise at her expense, but he seemed, instead, to be very upset by it. As Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste, his countenance became more and more clouded. At one point, while Elizabeth was playing, Mr. Darcy was about to defend her to his aunt but he happened to catch Elizabeth's eye again and noticed the small shake of her head. She smiled kindly at him and continued the song.

Mr. Darcy was amazed. There was his aunt, badgering his dearest's performance and being incredibly condescending. And yet, there was Elizabeth receiving her ladyship's comments with all the forbearance of civility! She was glorious. Any other woman, he was quite sure, would be incredibly offended at Lady Catherine's comments, but she knew when to ignore those with nothing better to do than to criticize. Yes, he thought, she is glorious.

At the request of the gentlemen, Elizabeth remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was ready to take them all home. If Mr. Darcy's bow lingered for longer than was necessary, no one seemed to notice save Elizabeth, and the group was conveyed to the Parsonage with no difficulty. Elizabeth was glad that some of their previous bantering had returned while Mr. Darcy was already constructing a plan to see Elizabeth again the next day. He was full of her and he wanted more.

Elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Jane while Mrs. Collins had gone on business into the village, when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a visitor. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to be Lady Catherine, and under that apprehension was putting away her half-finished letter that she might escape all impertinent questions, when the door opened, and, to her very great surprise, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy only, entered the room.

He seemed astonished and incredibly pleased on finding her alone and, though he apologized for his intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were to be within, he seemed entirely too happy to have her all to himself. They then sat down, and each made enquiries after the other and the respective households. After confirming that the occupants of each were well since the previous evening, Mr. Darcy spoke.

"I do hope, Miss Bennet, that you were not offended by Lady Catherine's comments last evening, specifically those about your performance on the pianoforte. If you were, I want to apologize on her behalf. Indeed, you must know that there were other occupants in the room who found your playing all that was lovely."

Elizabeth didn't know whether to be pleased by his compliment or amused that he felt the need to apologize, but she confirmed that she had not been affronted in the least.

"Excellent," he continued. "I am happy to hear it." He paused. "Were you writing, before I arrived? I hope my visit was not untimely."

"No, indeed. I mean, umm, yes I was writing… to Jane, but no your visit is not untimely." Why could she not speak coherently! What on earth was wrong with her?

Mr. Darcy, however, did not seem perturbed by her inability to form a normal sentence and instead looked rather pleased with himself. He took the opportunity to admire Elizabeth- she was situated in a chair near a window and he watched, delighted, as the sun seemed to dance across her hair and face. He thought to himself that really she was the loveliest in the sunshine. He would have to find a way for them to be outside together so that he could admire her more. However, before the silence became uncomfortable, he remembered himself and spoke again.

"This seems a very comfortable house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. Collins first came to Hunsford."

"I believe she did—and I am sure she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful object."

"Mr. Collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a wife. Are you as happy for this sister as you are for your eldest?"

She smiled at his reference to their earlier conversation. "Yes, I suppose. I am happy to see Mary well situated and she seems content. I must say, however, that his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him, or have made him happy if they had. My sister has an excellent understanding—though I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however, and that is enough for me."

"It must be very agreeable for her to be settled within so easy a distance of your family and friends."

"An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles!"

"And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day's journey. Yes, I call it a very easy distance."

She considered for this moment and Darcy could not have been more pleased that she should show so much attention to their conversation.

"I should never have considered the distance as one of the advantages of the match," said Elizabeth. "I should never have said Mary was settled near her family."

"It is a proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond the very neighborhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far."

As he spoke there was a sort of smile which Elizabeth fancied she understood; he must be supposing her to be thinking of Jane and Netherfield, and she blushed as she answered: "I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her family. The far and the near must be relative, and depend on many varying circumstances. Where there is fortune to make the expenses of travelling unimportant, distance becomes no evil. But that is not the case here. Mr. and Mrs. Collins have a comfortable income, but not such a one as will allow of frequent journeys—and I am persuaded my sister would not call herself near to us under less than half the present distance."

Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her, and said, "You cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment. You cannot have been always at Longbourn."

Elizabeth looked surprised and, unable to hold such his overpowering gaze, turned away. Mr. Darcy seemed to sense her unease and he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and glancing over it, said, in a subdued voice: "Are you pleased with Kent?"

A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued – Elizabeth extolling the virtues of the grounds at Rosings and Mr. Darcy simply pleased to watch her speak – and soon ended by the entrance of Mary just returned from her walk. The tête-à-tête surprised her. Mr. Darcy related the mistake which had occasioned his intruding on Miss Bennet, and after sitting a few minutes longer with the sisters he went away.

"What can be the meaning of this?" said Mary, as soon as he was gone. "My dear Lizzy, he must be very much in love with you, or he would never have called on us in this familiar way."

Elizabeth said nothing and tried to return to her letter, which proved to be quite difficult and she soon abandoned the pursuit in favor of reading. This was quickly deemed impossible due to the excited and nervous thoughts that occupied her head. She passed the remainder of the day in such a fashion – flitting aimlessly from task to task – until that evening when she could collapse into her bed, away from Mary's inquisitive and insinuating glances.