
                    PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

                     vol. 2

                     chapter 6



MR.  COLLINS'S triumph in consequence of this invitation was complete.  The
power of displayingend.  candeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors,
and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was
exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be
given so soon, was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension as he
knew not how to admire enough.  "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 (an invitation moreover including the whole party)
so immediately after your arrival!"  "I am the less surprised at what has
happened," replied Sir William, "from that knowledge of what the manners of
the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire.
About the Court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon."
Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day or next morning, but their
visit to Rosings.  Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they
were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so
splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them.  When the ladies were
separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth, "Do not make yourself
uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel.  Lady Catherine is far from
requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter.
I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to
the rest, there is no occasion for any thing more.  Lady Catherine will not
think the worse of you for being simply dressed.  She likes to have the
distinction of rank preserved."  While they were dressing, he came two or
three times to their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady
Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. -- Such
formidable accounts of her Ladyship, and her manner of living, quite
frightened Maria Lucas, who had been little used to company, and she looked
forward to her introduction at Rosings, with as much apprehension, as her
father had done to his presentation at St.  James's.  As the weather was
fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park. -- Every
park has its beauty and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased
with, though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expom ahe scene
to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows
in front of the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had
originally cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh Hishey ascended the steps to the hall,
Maria's alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look
perfectly calm. -- Elizabeth's courage did not fail her, She had heard
nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents
or miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank, she thought
she could witness without trepidation.  From the entrance hall, of which Mr.
Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and finished
ornaments, they followed the servants through an anti-chamber, to the room
where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs, Jenkinson 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 her's, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those
apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary.  In spite of
having been at St.  James's, Sir William was so completely awed, by the
grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very
low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter,
frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not know-
ing which way to look.  Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and
could observe the three ladies before her composedly. -- 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, and brought Mr.
Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day
altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had
represented.  When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and
deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes
on the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's 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, and placing a sccourtiin the proper direction before her eyes.  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; and,
as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by
her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish
nothing greater. -- He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity;
and every dish was commended, first by him, and then by Sir William, who was
now enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said, in a manner which
Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear.  But Lady Catherine seemed
gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles,
especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them.  The party
did not supply much conversation.  Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever
there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss De Bourgh
-- the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine,
officer statter 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 were indisposed.  Maria thought
speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and
admire Hishe ladies 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 enquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and
gave her a great deal of advice, as to the management of them all; told her
how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as her's, and
instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry.  Elizabeth found
that nothing was beneath this great Lady's attention, which could furnish her
with an occasion of dictating to others.  In the intervals of her discourse
with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and
Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew the
least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind
of girl.  She asked her at different times, how many sisters she had, whether
they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to
be married, whether they were handsome, 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
answered them very composedly. -- Lady Catherine then
observed,
"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think,
For your sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; 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, probably superior to --
You shall try it some day. -- Do your sisters play and sing?"
"One of them does."
"Why did not you all learn? -- You ought all to have learned.
The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an
income as your's. -- Do you draw?"
"No, not at all."
"What, none of you?"
"Not one."
"That is very strange.  But I suppose you had no opportu-
nity.  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 oughtsr
such a thing.  Your mother must have been quite a slave to
your education."
Elizabeth could hardly help smiling, as she assured her
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."
"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 instruc-
tion, and nobody but a governess can give it.  It is wonderful
how many families I have been thc 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 recom-
mended 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 Metcalfe'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?"
"Yes, Ma'am, all."
"All! -- What, all five out at once?  Very odd! -- And you
only the second. -- The younger ones out before the elder are
married! -- Your younger sisters must be very young?"
"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen.  Perhaps she is full young
to be much in company.  But really, Ma'am, I think it would
be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have
their share of society and amusement because the elder may
not have the means or inclination to marry early. -- The last
born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth, as the first
Bingleyd
And to be kept back on such a motive! -- I think it would not
be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of
mind."
"Upon my word," said her Lady'ship, "you give your
opinion very decidedly for so young a person. -- Pray, what is
your age?"
"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth
smiling, "your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it."
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving
a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the
first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much digni-
fied impertinence!
"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, -- therefore
you need not conceal your age."
"I am not one and twenty."
When the gentlemen had joined them,
the card tables were placed.  Lady Catherine, Sir William, and
Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrill; and as Miss
De Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the two girls had the
honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party.
Their table was superlatively stupid.  Scarcely a syllable was
uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs.
Jenkinson expressed her fears of Miss De Bourgh's being too
hot or too cold, or having too much or too little light.  A great
deal more passed at the other table, Lady Catherine was
generally speaking -- stating the mistakes of the three others,
or relating some anecdote of herself.  Mr. Collins was employed
in agreeing to every thing her Ladyship said, thanking her
for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won
too many.  Sir William did not say much.  He was storing his
memory with anecdotes and noble names.
When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long
as they chose, the tables were broke up, the carriage was
offered to Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted, and immediately
ordered.  The party then passinehered 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. Collins's side, and as many bows on Sir William's,
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 Charlotte's sake,
she made more favourable than it really was.  But her com-
mendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no
means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to
take her Ladyship's praise into his own hands.
