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 expected the
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.
When they 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 ante-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 knowing 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, officerstatter 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 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 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 instruction, 
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 recommended 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 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,
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 
commendation, 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.