Chapter 15

ON Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for
breakfast a few minutes before the others appeared; and he
took the opportunity of paying the parting civilities which he
deemed indispensably necessary.
"I know not, Miss Elizabeth," said he "whether Mrs Collins
has yet expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us
but I am very certain you will not leave the house without
receiving her thanks for it.  The favour of your company has
been much felt, I assure you.  We know how little there is to
tempt any one to our humble abode.  Our plain manner of
living, our small rooms, and few domestics, and the little we
see of the world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a
young lady like yourself; but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension, and that we have done every thing
in our power to prevent your spending your time unpleasantly."
Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of
happiness.  She had spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and
the pleasure of being with Charlotte, and the kind attentions
she had received, must make her feel the obliged.  Mr. Collins
was gratified; and with a more smiling solemnity replied,
"It gives me the greatest pleasure to hear that you have
passed your time not disagreeably.  We have certainly done
our best; and most fortunately having it in our power to
introduce you to very superior society, and from our connection 
with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the
humble home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your
Hunsford visit cannot have been entirely irksome.  Our situation 
with regard to Lady Catherine's family is indeed the sort
of extraordinary advantage and blessing which few can boast.
You see on what a footing we are.  You see how continually we
are engaged there.  In truth I must acknowledge that, with all
the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should not
think any one abiding in it an object of compassion, while they
are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings."
Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings;
and he was obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth
tried to unite civility and truth in a few short sentences.
"You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us
into Hertfordshire, my dear cousin.  I flatter myself at least
that you will be able to do so.  Lady Catherine's great attentions 
to Mrs. Collins you have been a daily witness of; and
altogether I trust it does not appear that your friend has
drawn an unfortunate -- but on this point it will be as 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 in marriage.  My dear Charlotte and I have but one
mind and one way of thinking.  There is in every thing a most
remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us
We seem to have been designed for each other."
Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness
where that was the case, and with equal sincerity could add
that she firmly believed and rejoiced in his domestic comforts.
She was not sorry, however, to have the recital of them interrupted 
by the entrance of the lady from whom they sprung.
Poor Charlotte! -- it was melancholy to leave her to such
society! -- But she had chosen it with her eyes open; and
though evidently regretting that her visitors were to go, she
did not seem to ask for compassion.  Her home and her 
housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent
concerns, had not yet lost their charms.
At length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on,
the parcels placed within, and it was pronounced to be ready.
After an affectionate parting between the friends, Elizabeth
was attended to the carriage by Mr. Collins, and as they
walked down the garden, he was commissioning her with his
best respects to all her family, not forgetting his thanks for
the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and
his compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown.
He then handed her in, Maria followed, and the door was on
the point of being closed, when he suddenly reminded them,
with some consternation, that they had hitherto forgotten to
leave any message for the ladies of Rosings.
"But," he added, "you will of course wish to have your
humble respects delivered to them, with your grateful
thanks for their kindness to you while you have been
here."
Elizabeth made no objection; -- the door was then allowed
to be shut, and the carriage drove off.
"Good gracious!" cried Maria, after a few minutes silence,
"it seems but a day or two since we first came! -- and yet how
many things have happened!"
"A great many indeed," said her companion with a sigh.
"We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking
tea there twice! -- 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; and within four hours of their leaving Hunsford,
they reached Mr. Gardiner's house, where they were to
remain a few days.
Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of
studying her spirits, amidst the various engagements which
the kindness of her aunt had reserved for them.  But Jane was
to go home with her, and at Longbourn there would be leisure
enough for observation.
It was not without an effort meanwhile that she could wait
even for Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's
proposals.  To know that she had the power of revealing what
would so exceedingly astonish Jane, and must, at the same
time, so highly gratify whatever of her own vanity she had
not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation to
openness as nothing could have conquered, but the state of
indecision in 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 into repeating something of Bingley,
which might only grieve her sister farther.