CHAPTER XV.
On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a fewminutes before the others appeared; and he took the opportunity ofpaying the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary.
”I know not, Miss Elizabeth,” said he, ”whether Mrs. Collins has yetexpressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us, but I am verycertain you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks forit. The favour of your company has been much felt, I assure you. We knowhow little there is to tempt any one to our humble abode. Our plainmanner of living, our small rooms, and few domestics, and the little wesee of the world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a young lady likeyourself; but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension,and that we have done every thing in our power to prevent your spendingyour time unpleasantly.”
Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness. She hadspent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being withCharlotte, and the kind attentions she had received, must make _her_feel the obliged. Mr. Collins was gratified; and with a more smilingsolemnity replied,
”It gives me the greatest pleasure to hear that you have passed yourtime not disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and mostfortunately having it in our power to introduce you to very superiorsociety, and from our connection with Rosings, the frequent means ofvarying the humble home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves thatyour Hunsford visit cannot have been entirely irksome. Our situationwith regard to Lady Catherine's family is indeed the sort ofextraordinary advantage and blessing which few can boast. You see onwhat a footing we are. You see how continually we are engaged there. Intruth I must acknowledge that, with all the disadvantages of this humbleparsonage, I should not think any one abiding in it an object ofcompassion, while they are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings.”
Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he wasobliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civilityand truth in a few short sentences.
”You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us intoHertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself at least that you willbe able to do so. Lady Catherine's great attentions to Mrs. Collins youhave been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appearthat your friend has drawn an unfortunate--but on this point it will beas well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth,that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity inmarriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way ofthinking. There is in every thing a most remarkable resemblance ofcharacter and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for eachother.”
Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that wasthe case, and with equal sincerity could add that she firmly believedand rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry, however, tohave the recital of them interrupted by the entrance of the lady fromwhom they sprung. Poor Charlotte!--it was melancholy to leave her tosuch society!--But she had chosen it with her eyes open; and thoughevidently regretting that her visitors were to go, she did not seem toask for compassion. Her home and her housekeeping, her parish and herpoultry, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet lost theircharms.
At length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on, the parcelsplaced within, and it was pronounced to be ready. After an affectionateparting between the friends, Elizabeth was attended to the carriage byMr. Collins, and as they walked down the garden, he was commissioningher with his best respects to all her family, not forgetting his thanksfor the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and hiscompliments to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown. He then handed herin, Maria followed, and the door was on the point of being closed, whenhe suddenly reminded them, with some consternation, that they hadhitherto forgotten to leave any message for the ladies of Rosings.
”But,” he added, ”you will of course wish to have your humble respectsdelivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to youwhile you have been here.”
Elizabeth made no objection;--the door was then allowed to be shut, andthe carriage drove off.
”Good gracious!” cried Maria, after a few minutes silence, ”it seems buta day or two since we first came!--and yet how many things havehappened!”
”A great many indeed,” said her companion with a sigh.
”We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea theretwice!--How much I shall have to tell!”
Elizabeth privately added, ”And how much I shall have to conceal.”
Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm; andwithin four hours of their leaving Hunsford, they reached Mr. Gardiner'shouse, where they were to remain a few days.
Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying herspirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her aunthad reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her, and atLongbourn there would be leisure enough for observation.
It was not without an effort meanwhile that she could wait even forLongbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals. To knowthat she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonishJane, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her ownvanity she had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptationto openness as nothing could have conquered, but the state of indecisionin which she remained, as to the extent of what she should communicate;and her fear, if she once entered on the subject, of being hurried intorepeating something of Bingley, which might only grieve her sisterfarther.