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Mr. Collins's triumph was complete. "I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship's invitation to spend the evening at Rosings on Sunday. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen."
He wished only to display the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors and let them see her civility towards himself and his wife. He continued, "But who could have foreseen such 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!"
Sir William replied, "I am not surprised at what has happened. My situation in life has allowed me to acquire knowledge of the manners of the great. About the court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon."
Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their visit to Rosings.
Mr. Collins carefully instructed them in what they were to expect, the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner.
"Do not make yourself uneasy about your apparel," he said to Elizabeth. "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."
While they were dressing, Mr. Collins came two or three times to their different doors, to recommend haste. 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. 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. Elizabeth saw much to please, though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire. His enumeration of the windows in front of the house did not affect her. Neither did his relation of what the glazing altogether had cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh.
When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every moment increasing. Even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. The mere stateliness of money or rank she could witness without trepidation. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that suggested extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue.
Mr. Collins pointed out the fine proportion of the rooms and the finished ornaments in the house. This account given with a rapturous air as they followed the servants. From the entrance-hall, they passed through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting.
Her Ladyship, with great condescension, arose to receive them. 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 spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word. His daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look.
Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene and observed the three ladies before her.
Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating. Her manner of receiving them made sure her visitors did not forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence. Whatever she said was in so authoritative a tone, as to marked her self-importance. She brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind.
In the manner and appearance of the mother, Elizabeth saw some resemblance of Mr. Darcy. She then turned her eyes on the daughter. Elizabeth 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. She spoke very little, except in a low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson. In turn, there was nothing remarkable in her appearance, and she was entirely engaged in listening.
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 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. 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. Every dish was commended. First by Mr. Collins and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law said. He spoke in such a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. 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. 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.
When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, they did nothing but listen to Lady Catherine, who talked without any intermission till coffee came in. In so decisive a manner her opinion on every subject was delivered, as proved that she was not used to having her judgement controverted.
She inquired minutely into Charlotte's domestic concerns and gave her a great deal of advice about the management of them all. Told her how everything ought to be regulated in so small a family as hers, and instructed her on the care of her cows and poultry.
Nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could seem dictatorial to others.
She commented to Mrs. Collins that Elizabeth was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth. Especially to Elizabeth, of whose connections she knew the least. She asked Elizabeth, 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 said, "Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins. For your sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it. 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 will be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to what you are used to. You must try it someday. 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 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 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. A governess will prevent idleness. 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. The other day I recommended another young person, who was 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?"
"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 ones 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, ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters if they do not have their share of society and amusement. Especially when 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. 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 Ladyship, "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. Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified 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, and tea was over, the card-tables were placed.
Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrille. 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 to state the mistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins agreed to everything her Ladyship said and 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.
The tables were broken up when Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, and the carriage offered to Mrs. Collins. While they waited for the carriage, the party gathered around the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were to have on the morrow. The arrival of the coach gave rise to many speeches of thankfulness by Mr. Collins, and as many bows on Sir William's they departed.
As soon as they had driven from the door, her cousin asked Elizabeth to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings. For Charlotte's sake, she made her account more favourable than it was. Her commendation could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he took her Ladyship's praise into his own hands.