Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 37

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 health, 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 no one 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 by 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 and 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."