Chapter Fourteen
"So," my father said laying down his knife and fork and looking up at Colin who had a whole bread roll stuffed in his mouth, "you told us before that your neighbour Lady Catherine invites you over for dinner almost once a week. What is it like living next to her, is she a kind neighbour?"
I turned my head and gave my father an incredulous look which he returned with a smug smile. Colin began describing how kind Lady Catherine was and the generous advice she suggested to his father. I couldn't understand why my father would want to hear him rambling on for the next three hours, but he sat with his chin resting on his hand with an amused smile on his face as he listened to Colin tell us about Lady Catherine's sickly daughter.
"Yes, she is a lovely girl," said Colin stuffing his eighth bun into his mouth, "but she isn't well, she has been sick for some time and is unable to leave the house for very long. I told Lady Catherine that her daughter Anne would be the best pianist if she was able to go to a music school- these are the kinds of compliments I like to give to Lady Catherine, and I think I'm quite good at it. " He smiled at Jane and some of the bread fell out of his mouth.
"You have the talent of flattery Colin," my father said ignoring Lydia's snickering, "but do you write down your ideas first, or are they spur of the moment compliments?" My father's question caused Lydia to burst out with a short hysterical giggle which caused Kitty to have a coughing spasm hiding her laughter. Jane and I just looked at each other across the table pursing our lips and trying hard not to betray our laughter.
"Mostly they are spur of the moment," said Colin, oblivious to our amusement, "but sometimes I amuse myself by writing some down." My father smiled politely and when Colin's attention was diverted to Mary who had begun questioning him, my father gave me a wink. He thought Colin was just as crazy and absurd as I did.
After dinner, Colin announced that he was going to read aloud from his grandpa's bible which caused Lydia and Kitty to groan and saunter into the living room. Jane and I insisted that we would do the dishes while Colin began his reading, but he also insisted that he would wait for us to finish before he began. I rolled my eyes at Jane and we quickly cleaned up the kitchen.
"I'm going to read to you a very interesting passage." Colin said taking a large fat book out of his bag while Lydia gaped at him. He had read several pages slowly with his solemn nasal voice when Lydia interrupted him.
"Mom you should have seen how hot the lead singer was at the café! His name is Denny and he's seventeen!" Lydia burst out followed by Kitty quickly agreeing with her. Though I didn't want to hear Colin read anymore either, Jane and I scolded Lydia for being rude.
"It's okay," said Colin with a hurt look on his face as he put his book back in his bag and pulled out his laptop instead, "I know that little girls don't like serious books. Mr. Bennet, would you like to see some recent pictures of my family?"