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out with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind。 He could
number the fields in every direction； and could tell how many
trees there were in the most distant clump。 But of all the views
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which his garden； or which the country； or the kingdom could
boast； none were to be compared with the prospect of Rosings；
afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park nearly
opposite the front of his house。 It was a handsome modern
building； well situated on rising ground。
From his garden； Mr。 Collins would have led them round his
two meadows； but the ladies not having shoes to encounter the
remains of a white frost； turned back； and while Sir William
accompanied him； Charlotte took her sister and friend over the
house； extremely well pleased； probably； to have the opportunity
of shewing it without her husband’s help。 It was rather small； but
well built and convenient； and every thing was fitted up and
arranged with a neatness and consistency of which Elizabeth gave
Charlotte all the credit。 When Mr。 Collins could be forgotten； there
was really a great air of comfort throughout； and by Charlotte’s
evident enjoyment of it； Elizabeth supposed he must be often
forgotten。
She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the
country。 It was spoken of again while they were at dinner； when
Mr。 Collins joining in； observed；
‘Yes； Miss Elizabeth； you will have the honour of seeing Lady
Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church； and I need
not say you will be delighted with her。 She is all affability and
condescension； and I doubt not but you will be honoured with
some portion of her notice when service is over。 I have scarcely
any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister
Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your
stay here。 Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming。 We
dine at Rosings twice every week； and are never allowed to walk
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home。 Her ladyship’s carriage is regularly ordered for us。 I should
say； one of her ladyship’s carriages； for she has several。’
‘Lady Catherine is a very respectable； sensible woman indeed；’
added Charlotte； ‘and a most attentive neighbour。’
‘Very true； my dear； that is exactly what I say。 She is the sort of
woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference。’
The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire
news； and telling again what had been already written； and when
it closed； Elizabeth in the solitude of her chamber had to meditate
upon Charlotte’s degree of contentment； to understand her
address in guiding； and composure in bearing with her husband；
and to acknowledge that it was all done very well。 She had also to
anticipate how her visit would pass； the quiet tenor of their usual
employments； the vexatious interruptions of Mr。 Collins； and the
gaieties of their intercourse with Rosings。 A lively imagination
soon settled it all。
About the middle of the next day； as she was in her room
getting ready for a walk； a sudden noise below seemed to speak
the whole house in confusion； and after listening a moment； she
heard somebody running up stairs in a violent hurry； and calling
loudly after her。 She opened the door； and met Maria in the
landing place； who； breathless with agitation； cried out；
‘Oh； my dear Eliza！ pray make haste and come into the dining…
room； for there is such a sight to be seen！ I will not tell you what it
is。 Make haste； and come down this moment。’
Elizabeth asked questions in vain； Maria would tell her nothing
more； and down they ran into the dining…room； which fronted the
lane； in quest of this wonder； it was two ladies stopping in a low
phaeton at the garden gate。
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‘And is this all？’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘I expected at least that the
pigs were got into the garden； and here is nothing but Lady
Catherine and her daughter！’
‘La！ my dear；’ said Maria quite shocked at the mistake； ‘it is not
Lady Catherine。 The old lady is Mrs。 Jenkinson； who lives with
them。 The other is Miss De Bourgh。 Only look at her。 She is quite
a little creature。 Who would have thought she could be so thin and
small！’
‘She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all
this wind。 Why does she not come in？’
‘Oh！ Charlotte says； she hardly ever does。 It is the greatest of
favours when Miss De Bourgh comes in。
‘I like her appearance；’ said Elizabeth； struck with other ideas。
‘She looks sickly and cross。—Yes； she will do for him very well。
She will make him a very proper wife。’
Mr。 Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in
conversation with the ladies； and Sir William； to Elizabeth’s high
diversion； was stationed in the doorway； in earnest contemplation
of the greatness before him； and constantly bowing whenever Miss
De Bourgh looked that way。
At length there was nothing more to be said； the ladies drove
on； and the others returned into the house。 Mr。 Collins no sooner
saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their
good fortune； which Charlotte explained by letting them know that
the whole party was asked to dine at Rosings the next day。
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CHAPTER VI
r。 Collins’s triumph in consequence of this invitation
was complete。 The power of displaying the grandeur of
M
his patroness to his wondering visitors； and of letting
them see her civility towards himself and his wife； was exactly
what he had wished for； and that an opportunity of doing it should
be given so soon； was such an instance of Lady Catherine’s
condescension as he knew not how to admire enough。
‘I confess；’ said he； ‘that I should not have been at all surprised
by her Ladyship’s asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the
evening at Rosings。 I rather expected； from my knowledge of her
affability； that it would happen。 But who could have foreseen such
an attention as this？ Who could have imagined that we should
receive an invitation to dine there （an invitation moreover
including the whole party） so immediately after your arrival！’
‘I am the less surprised at what has happened；’ replied Sir
William； ‘from that knowledge of what the manners of the great
really are； which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire。
About the Court； such instances of elegant breeding are not
uncommon。’
Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day or next
morning； but their visit to Rosings。 Mr。 Collins was carefully
instructing them in what they were to expect； that the sight of
such rooms； so many servants； and so splendid a dinner might not
wholly overpower them。
When the ladies were separating for the toilette； he said to
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Elizabe