CHAPTER VIII.
Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the parsonage,and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasure oftheir engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before theyreceived any invitation thither, for while there were visitors in thehouse, they could not be necessary; and it was not till Easter-day,almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honoured bysuch an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church tocome there in the evening. For the last week they had seen very littleof either Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had calledat the parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they hadonly seen at church.
The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joinedthe party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received themcivilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means soacceptable 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 awelcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend hadmoreover caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her, andtalked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and stayingat home, of new books and music, that Elizabeth had never been half sowell entertained in that room before; and they conversed with so muchspirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, aswell as of Mr. Darcy. _His_ eyes had been soon and repeatedly turnedtowards them with a look of curiosity; and that her ladyship after awhile shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she did notscruple to call out,
”What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talkingof? 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 avoida reply.
”Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. Imust have my share in the conversation, if you are speaking of music.There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoymentof music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, Ishould have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her healthhad allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performeddelightfully. 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 LadyCatherine; ”and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel,if she does not practise a great deal.”
”I assure you, Madam,” he replied, ”that she does not need such advice.She practises very constantly.”
”So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next writeto her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I oftentell young ladies, that no excellence in music is to be acquired,without constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times, thatshe will never play really well, unless she practises more; and thoughMrs. Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have oftentold her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the piano-forte inMrs. Jenkinson's room. She would be in nobody's way, you know, in thatpart of the house.”
Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill breeding, and madeno answer.
When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of havingpromised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. Hedrew a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to half a song, and thentalked, as before, to her other nephew; till the latter walked away fromher, and moving with his usual deliberation towards the piano-forte,stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer'scountenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the firstconvenient pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said,
”You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hearme? But I will not be alarmed though your sister _does_ play so well.There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened atthe will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt tointimidate me.”
”I shall not say that you are mistaken,” he replied, ”because you couldnot really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and Ihave had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know, that youfind great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in factare not your own.”
Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said toColonel Fitzwilliam, ”Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion ofme, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unluckyin meeting with a person so well able to expose my real character, in apart of the world, where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degreeof credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mentionall that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire--and, give meleave 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 ColonelFitzwilliam. ”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 dancedonly four dances! I am sorry to pain you--but so it was. He danced onlyfour 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.”
”I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assemblybeyond my own party.”
”True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball room. Well, ColonelFitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders.”
”Perhaps,” said Darcy, ”I should have judged better, had I sought anintroduction, but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers.”
”Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?” said Elizabeth, stilladdressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. ”Shall we ask him why a man of sense andeducation, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommendhimself to strangers?”
”I can answer your question,” said Fitzwilliam, ”without applying tohim. It is because he will not give himself the trouble.”
”I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy,”of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannotcatch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in theirconcerns, as I often see done.”
”My fingers,” said Elizabeth, ”do not move over this instrument in themasterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the sameforce or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then Ihave always supposed it to be my own fault--because I would not take thetrouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe _my_ fingers ascapable as any other woman's of superior execution.”
Darcy smiled and said, ”You are perfectly right. You have employed yourtime much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you, canthink any thing wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.”
Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to knowwhat they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again.Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, saidto Darcy,
”Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss, if she practised more, andcould have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notionof fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would havebeen a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn.”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to hiscousin's praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could shediscern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to MissDe Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might havebeen just as likely to marry _her_, had she been his relation.
Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixingwith them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth receivedthem with all the forbearance of civility; and at the request of thegentlemen remained at the instrument till her Ladyship's carriage wasready to take them all home.