Chapter 14

THE two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning; and Mr. 
Collins having been in waiting near the lodges, to make them
his parting obeisance, was able to bring home the pleasing
intelligence, of their appearing in very good hearecommx and in as
tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the melancholy
scene so lately gone through at Rosings.  To Rosings he then
hastened to console Lady Catherine, and her daughter; and
on his return, brought back, with great satisfaction, a message
from her Ladyship, importing that she felt herself so dull as
to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her.
Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting, 
that had she chosen it, she might by this time have been
presented to her, as her future niece; nor could she think,
without a smile, of what her ladyship's indignation would
have been.  "What would she have said? -- how would she have
behaved?" were questions with which she amused herself.
Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party.
 -- "I assure you, I feel it exceedingly," said Lady Catherine;
"I believe nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do.
But I am particularly attached to these young men; and know
them to be so much attached to me! -- They were excessively
sorry to go!  But so they always are.  The dear colonel rallied
his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy seemed to feel
it most acutely, more I think than last year.  His attachment
to Rosings, certainly increases."
Mr. Collins had a compliment, and an allusion to throw in
here, which were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter.
Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet
seemed out of spirits, and immediately accounting for it herself, 
by supposing that she did not like to go home again so
soon, she added,
"But if that is the case, you must write to your mother to
beg that you may stay a little longer.  Mrs. Collins will be
very glad of your company, I am sure."
"I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation," 
replied Elizabeth, "but it is not in my power to accept
it. -- I must be in town next Saturday."
"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks.
I expected you to stay two months.  I told Mrs. Collins so
before you came.  There can be no occasion for your going
so soon.  Mrs. Bennet could certainly spare you for another
fortnight."
"But my father cannot. -- He wrote last week to hurry my
return."
"Oh!  your father of course may spare you, if your mother
can. -- Daughters are never of so much consequence to a
father.  And if you will stay another month complete, it will be
in my power to take one of you as far as London, for I am
going there early in June, for a week; and as Dawson does not
object to the Barouche box, there will be very good room for
one of you -- and indeed, if the weather should happen to be
cool, I should not object to taking you both, as you are neither
of you large."
"You are all kindness, Madam; but I believe we must abide
by our original plan."
Lady Catherine seemed resigned.
"Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant with them.  You
know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of
two young women travelling post by themselves.  It is highly
improper.  You must contrive to send somebody.  I have the
greatest dislike in the world to that sort of thing. -- Young
women should always be properly guarded and attended,
accordy inheir situation in life.  When my niece Georgiana
went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her having
two men servants go with her. -- Miss Darcy, the daughter
of Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have
appeared with propriety in a different manner. -- I am excessively attentive to all those things.  You must send John with
the young ladies, Mrs. Collins.  I am glad it occurred to me to
mention it; for it would really be discreditable to you to let
them go alone."
"My uncle is to send a servant for us."
"Oh! -- Your uncle! -- He keeps a man-servant, does he? --
I am very glad you have somebody who thinks of those things.
Where shall you change horses? -- Oh!  Bromley, of course. --
If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be attended to,"
Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey, and as she did not answer them all herself,
attention was necessary, which Elizabeth believed to be luckyther sar; or, with a mind so occupied, she might have forgotten
where she was.  Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours;
whenever she was alone, she gave way to it asend.  ceatest
relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which
she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.
Mr. Darcy's letter, she was in a fair way of soon knowing
by heart.  She studied every sentence: and her feelings towards
its writer were at times widely different.  When she remembered 
the style of his address, she was still full of indignation;
but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned
and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself; and
his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion.
His attachment excited gratitude, his general character
respect; but she could not approve him; nor could she for a
moment repent her refusal, or feel the slightest inclination
ever to see him again.  In her own past behaviour, there was
a constant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy
defects of her family a subject of yet heavier chagrin.  They
were hopeless of remedy.  Her father, contented with laughing 
at them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild
giddiness of his youngest daughters; and her mother, with
manners so far from right herself, was entirely insensible of
the evil.  Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in an
endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia;
but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence,
what chance could there be of improvement?  Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Lydia's guidance,
had been always affronted by their advice; and Lydia, self-
willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing.  They
were ignorant, idle, and vain.  While there was an officer in
Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was
within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there
for ever.
Anxiety on Jane's behalf, was another prevailing concern,
and Mr. Darcy's explanation, by restoring Bingley to all her
former good opinion, heightened the sense of what Jane had
lost.  His affection was proved to have been sincere, and his
conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could attach to the
implicitness of his confidence in his friend.  How grievous then
was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every
respect, so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness,
Jane had been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her
own family!
When to these recollections was added the developement
of Wickham's character, it may be easily believed that the
happy spirits which had seldom been depressed before, were
now so much affected as to make it almost impossible for her
to appear tolerably cheefful.
Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the
last week of her stay, as they had been at first.  The very last
evening was spent there; and her Ladyship again enquired
minutely into the particulars of their journey, gave them
directions as to the best method of packing, and was so urgent
on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right way, that
Maria thought herself obliged, on her return, to undo all the
work of the morning, and pack her trunk afresh
Hishey parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension, 
wished them a good journey, and invited them
to come to Hunsford again next year; and Miss De Bourgh
exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out her hand
to both.