第53章

The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week；and，allowing for the loss of Sir William，and there being only one card table in the evening，every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few；as the style of living of the neighbourhood in general，was beyond the Collinses'reach.This however was noevil to Elizabeth，and upon the whole she spent her time comfortably enough；there were half hours of pleasant conversation with Charlotte，and the weather was so fine for the time of year，that she had often great enjoyment out of doors.Her favourite 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.

In this quiet way，the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching，and the week preceding it，was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings，which in so small a circle must be important.Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival，that Mr.Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks，and though there were not many of her acquaintance whom she did not prefer，his coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties，and she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were，by his behaviour to his cousin，for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Catherine；who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction，spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration，and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself.

His arrival 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.There weretwo nephews of Lady Catherine to require them，for Mr.Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam，the younger son of his uncle，Lord—and to the great surprise of all the party，when Mr.Collins returned the gentlemen accompanied him.Charlotte had seen them from her husband's room，crossing the road，and immediately running into the other，told the girls what an honour they might expect，adding，

'I may thank you，Eliza，for this piece of civility. Mr.Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me.'

Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the 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 looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire，paid his compliments，with his usual reserve，to Mrs.Collins；and whatever might be his feelings towards her friend，met her with every appearance of composure.Elizabeth merely curtseyed to him，without saying a word.

Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man，and talked very pleasantly；but his cousin，after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins，sat for some time without speaking to any body.At length，however，his civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Elizabeth after the health of her family.She answered him in the usual way，and after a moment's pause，added，

'My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there？'

She was perfectly sensible that he never had；but she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane；and she thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no farther，and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.

VIII

C olonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the parsonage，and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasure of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days，however，before they received any invitation thither，for while there were visitors in the house，they could not be necessary；and it was not till Easter-day，almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival，that they were honoured by such an attention，and then they were merely asked on leaving church to come there in the evening.For the last week they had seen very little of either Lady Catherine or her daughter.Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the parsonage more than once during the time，but Mr.Darcy they had only seen at church.

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 Darcy，much more than to any other person in the room.

Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them；any thing was a welcome relief to him at Rosings；and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend had moreover caught his fancy very much.He now seated himself by her，and talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire，of travelling and staying at home，of new books and music，that Elizabeth had never been half so well entertained in that roombefore；and they conversed with so much spirit and flow，as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself，as well as of Mr.Darcy.His eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity；and that her ladyship after a while shared the feeling，was more openly acknowledged，for she did not scruple to call out，