Chapter 29

by Jane Austen

　　Mr. Collins's triumph, in consequence of this invitation, wascomplete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patronessto his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civilitytowards himself and his wife, was exactly what he had wishedfor; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon,was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension, as heknew not how to admire enough."I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprisedby her ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend theevening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge ofher affability, that it would happen. But who could haveforeseen such an attention as this? Who could have imaginedthat we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation,moreover, including the whole party) so immediately after yourarrival!""I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied SirWilliam, "from that knowledge of what the manners of the greatreally are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire.About the court, such instances of elegant breeding are notuncommon."Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morningbut their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructingthem in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms,so many servants, and so splendid a dinner, might not whollyoverpower them.When the ladies were separating for the toilette. Her said toElizabeth--"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about yourapparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance ofdress in us which becomes herself and her daughter. I wouldadvise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superiorto the rest-- there is no occasion for anything more. LadyCatherine will not think the worse of you for being simplydressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."While they were dressing, he came two or three times to theirdifferent doors, to recommend their being quick, as LadyCatherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner.Such formidable accounts of her ladyship, and her manner ofliving, quite frightened Maria Lucas who had been little used tocompany, and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosingswith as much apprehension as her father had done to hispresentation at St. James's.As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half amile across the park. Every park has its beauty and itsprospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, thoughshe could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected thescene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumerationof the windows in front of the house, and his relation of what theglazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh.When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm wasevery moment increasing, and even Sir William did not lookperfectly calm. Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She hadheard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from anyextraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and the merestateliness of money or rank she thought she could witnesswithout trepidation.From the entrance-hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with arapturous air, the fine proportion and the finished ornaments,they followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the roomwhere Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson weresitting. Her ladyship, with great condescension, arose to receivethem; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband that theoffice of introduction should be hers, it was performed in aproper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks whichhe would have thought necessary.In spite of having been at St. James's Sir William was socompletely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he hadbut just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take hisseat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almostout of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowingwhich way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to thescene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly.Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-markedfeatures, which might once have been handsome. Her air wasnot conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such asto make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was notrendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said wasspoken in so authoritative a tone, as marked her self-importance,and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; andfrom the observation of the day altogether, she believed LadyCatherine to be exactly what he represented.When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance anddeportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy,she turned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost havejoined in Maria's astonishment at her being so thin and so small.There was neither in figure nor face any likeness between theladies. Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; her features, thoughnot plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except ina low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there wasnothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening towhat she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction beforeher eyes.After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of thewindows to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them topoint out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing themthat it was much better worth looking at in the summer.The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all theservants and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins hadpromised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat atthe bottom of the table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as ifhe felt that life could furnish nothing greater. He carved, andate, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dish wascommended, first by him and then by Sir William, who was nowenough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law said, in amanner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear.But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessiveadmiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when anydish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party did notsupply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speakwhenever there was an opening, but she was seated betweenCharlotte and Miss de Bourgh-- the former of whom wasengaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not aword to her all dinner-time. Miss Jenkinson was chieflyemployed in watching how little Miss de Bourgh ate, pressingher to try some other dish, and fearing she was indisposed.Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemendid nothing but eat and admire.When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, there was littleto be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she didwithout any intermission till coffee came in, delivering heropinion on every subject in so decisive a manner, as proved thatshe was not used to have her judgement controverted. Sheinquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly andminutely, gave her a great deal of advice as to the managementof them all; told her how everything ought to be regulated in sosmall a family as hers, and instructed her as to the care of hercows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was beneaththis great lady's attention, which could furnish her with anoccasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discoursewith Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Mariaand Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connectionsshe knew the least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins was avery genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her, at differenttimes, how many sisters she had, whether they were older oryounger than herself, whether any of them were likely to bemarried, whether they were handsome, where they had beeneducated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been hermother's maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of herquestions but answered them very composedly. Lady Catherinethen observed,"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. Foryour sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise Isee no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. It wasnot thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. Do youplay 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---- Youshall 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. TheMiss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an incomeas yours. 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 thebenefit of masters.""My mother would have had no objection, but my father hatesLondon.""Has your governess left you?""We never had any governess.""No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters broughtup at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing.Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education."Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that hadnot been the case."Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without agoverness, you must have been neglected.""Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of usas wished to learn never wanted the means. We were alwaysencouraged 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 ifI had known your mother, I should have advised her moststrenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to bedone in education without steady and regular instruction, andnobody but a governess can give it. It is wonderful how manyfamilies I have been the means of supplying in that way. I amalways glad to get a young person well placed out. Four niecesof Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through mymeans; and it was but the other day that I recommended anotheryoung person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me,and the family are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did Itell you of Lady Metcalf's calling yesterday to thank me? Shefinds Miss Pope a treasure. 'Lady Catherine,' said she, 'youhave 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 thesecond. The younger ones out before the elder ones aremarried! Your younger sisters must be very young?""Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young tobe much in company. But really, ma'am, I think it would bevery hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have theirshare of society and amusement, because the elder may not havethe means or inclination to marry early. The last-born has asgood a right to the pleasures of youth at the first. And to bekept back on such a motive! I think it would not be very likelyto promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind.""Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion verydecidedly 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 directanswer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creaturewho had ever dared to trifle with so much dignifiedimpertinence."You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, therefore you neednot conceal your age.""I am not one-and-twenty."When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, thecard-tables were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr.and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrille; and as Miss de Bourghchose to play at cassino, the two girls had the honour ofassisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party. Their table wassuperlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did notrelate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed herfears of Miss de Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or havingtoo much or too little light. A great deal more passed at theother table. Lady Catherine was generally speaking-- stating themistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote ofherself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to everything herladyship said, thanking her for every fish he won, andapologising if he thought he won too many. Sir William did notsay much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes and noblenames.When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long asthey chose, the tables were broken up, the carriage was offeredto Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted and immediately ordered.The party then gathered round the fire to hear Lady Catherinedetermine what weather they were to have on the morrow.From these instructions they were summoned by the arrival ofthe 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 calledon by her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen atRosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, she made more favourablethan it really was. But her commendation, though costing hersome trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he wasvery soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise into his ownhands.