Chapter 7

SIR WILLIAM stayed only a week at Hunsford; but his visit
was long enough to convince him of his daughter's being most
comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a husband
and such a neighbour as were not often met with.  While Sir
William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to
driving him out in his gig, and shewing him the country; but
when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual
employments, and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they
did not see more of her cousin by the alteration, for the chief
of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by
him either at work in the garden, or in reading and writing,
and looking out of window in his own book room, which
fronted the road.  The room in which the ladies sat was backwards.  Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte
should not prefer the dining parlour for common use; it was
a better sized room, and had a pleasanter aspect; but she soon
saw that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did,
for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less in
his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and she
gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement.
From the drawing room they could distinguish nothing in
the lane, and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge
of what carriages went along, and how often especially Miss
De Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed
coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every
day.  She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had
a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely
ever prevailed on to get out.
Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk
to Rosings, and not many in which his wife did not think it
necessary to go likewise; and till Elizabeth recollected that
there might be other family livings to be disposed of, she
could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours.  Now and
then, they were honoured with a call from her Ladyship, and
nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room
during these visits.  She examined into their employments,
looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently;
found fault with the arrangement of the furniture, or detected
the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. 
Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family.
Elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was
not in the commission of the peace for the county, she was a
most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns 
of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins; and
whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the
village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and
scold them into harmony and plenty.
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 
no evil 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 soors.  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 recommaage, 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
intelligence.  On the following morning he hastened to Rosings
to pay his respects.  There were two 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 oad; 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.