Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage,

and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures

of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they

received any invitation thither--for while there were visitors in the

house, they could not be necessary; and it was not till Easter-day,

almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honoured by

such an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church to

come there in the evening. For the last week they had seen very little

of Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the

Parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had seen

only at church.

The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined

the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received

them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so

acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact,

almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy,

much more than to any other person in the room.

Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them; anything was a

welcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend had

moreover caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her, and

talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying

at home, of new books and music, that Elizabeth had never been half so

well entertained in that room before; and they conversed with so much

spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself,

as well as of Mr. Darcy. _His_ eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned

towards them with a look of curiosity; and that her ladyship, after a

while, shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she did not

scruple to call out:

"What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking

of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is."

"We are speaking of music, madam," said he, when no longer able to avoid

a reply.

"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I

must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music.

There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment

of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt,

I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health

had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed

delightfully. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?"

Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency.

"I am very glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady

Catherine; "and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel

if she does not practice a good deal."

"I assure you, madam," he replied, "that she does not need such advice.

She practises very constantly."

"So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write

to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often

tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without

constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times, that she

will never play really well unless she practises more; and though Mrs.

Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told

her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the pianoforte in Mrs.

Jenkinson's room. She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part

of the house."

Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding, and made

no answer.

When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having

promised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. He

drew a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to half a song, and then

talked, as before, to her other nephew; till the latter walked away

from her, and making with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte

stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's

countenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first

convenient pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said:

"You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear

me? I will not be alarmed though your sister _does_ play so well. There

is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the

will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate

me."

"I shall not say you are mistaken," he replied, "because you could not

really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have

had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find

great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are

not your own."

Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to

Colonel Fitzwilliam, "Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of

me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky

in meeting with a person so able to expose my real character, in a part

of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of

credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all

that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire--and, give me leave to

say, very impolitic too--for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such

things may come out as will shock your relations to hear."

"I am not afraid of you," said he, smilingly.

"Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of," cried Colonel

Fitzwilliam. "I should like to know how he behaves among strangers."

"You shall hear then--but prepare yourself for something very dreadful.

The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must know,

was at a ball--and at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced

only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain

knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a

partner. Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny the fact."

"I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly

beyond my own party."

"True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. Well, Colonel

Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders."

"Perhaps," said Darcy, "I should have judged better, had I sought an

introduction; but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers."

"Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?" said Elizabeth, still

addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him why a man of sense and

education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend

himself to strangers?"

"I can answer your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying to

him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble."

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said Darcy,

"of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot

catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their

concerns, as I often see done."

"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the

masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same

force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I

have always supposed it to be my own fault--because I will not take the

trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe _my_ fingers as

capable as any other woman's of superior execution."

Darcy smiled and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your

time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can

think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers."

Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know

what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again.

Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said

to Darcy:

"Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and

could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion

of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have

been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn."

Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his

cousin's praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she

discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss

de Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have

been just as likely to marry _her_, had she been his relation.

Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing

with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received

them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the

gentlemen, remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was

ready to take them all home.

Chapter 32

Elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Jane

while Mrs. Collins and Maria were gone on business into the village,

when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a

visitor. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to

be Lady Catherine, and under that apprehension was putting away her

half-finished letter that she might escape all impertinent questions,

when the door opened, and, to her very great surprise, Mr. Darcy, and

Mr. Darcy only, entered the room.

He seemed astonished too on finding her alone, and apologised for his

intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were

to be within.

They then sat down, and when her inquiries after Rosings were made,

seemed in danger of sinking into total silence. It was absolutely

necessary, therefore, to think of something, and in this emergence

recollecting _when_ she had seen him last in Hertfordshire, and

feeling curious to know what he would say on the subject of their hasty

departure, she observed:

"How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy!

It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Bingley to see you

all after him so soon; for, if I recollect right, he went but the day

before. He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London?"

"Perfectly so, I thank you."

She found that she was to receive no other answer, and, after a short

pause added:

"I think I have understood that Mr. Bingley has not much idea of ever

returning to Netherfield again?"

"I have never heard him say so; but it is probable that he may spend

very little of his time there in the future. He has many friends, and

is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually

increasing."

"If he means to be but little at Netherfield, it would be better for

the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely, for then we

might possibly get a settled family there. But, perhaps, Mr. Bingley did

not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighbourhood as

for his own, and we must expect him to keep it or quit it on the same

principle."

"I should not be surprised," said Darcy, "if he were to give it up as

soon as any eligible purchase offers."

Elizabeth made no answer. She was afraid of talking longer of his

friend; and, having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the

trouble of finding a subject to him.

He took the hint, and soon began with, "This seems a very comfortable

house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr.

Collins first came to Hunsford."

"I believe she did--and I am sure she could not have bestowed her

kindness on a more grateful object."

"Mr. Collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a wife."

"Yes, indeed, his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one

of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him, or have made

him happy if they had. My friend has an excellent understanding--though

I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the

wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however, and in a

prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her."

"It must be very agreeable for her to be settled within so easy a

distance of her own family and friends."

"An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles."

"And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day's

journey. Yes, I call it a _very_ easy distance."

"I should never have considered the distance as one of the _advantages_

of the match," cried Elizabeth. "I should never have said Mrs. Collins

was settled _near_ her family."

"It is a proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond

the very neighbourhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far."

As he spoke there was a sort of smile which Elizabeth fancied she

understood; he must be supposing her to be thinking of Jane and

Netherfield, and she blushed as she answered:

"I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her