PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 29

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• Author: Jane Austen

MR. Collins's triumph
in consequence of this invitation was complete. The power of displaying
the grandeur of 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 Elizabeth,

"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel.
  Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which
  becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever
  of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for any
  thing more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being
  simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."

While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different
  doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected
  to be kept waiting for her dinner. -- Such formidable accounts of her
  ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas, who
  had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her introduction
  at Rosings with as much apprehension, as her father had done to his
  presentation at St. James's.

As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a
  mile across the park. -- Every park has its beauty and its prospects;
  and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in
  such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was
  but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of
  the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally
  cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh.

When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every
  moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm.
  -- Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady
  Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous
  virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could
  witness without trepidation.

From the entrance hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous
  air, the fine proportion and finished ornaments, they followed the servants
  through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter,
  and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. -- Her ladyship, with great condescension,
  arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband
  that the office of introduction should be her's, it was performed in
  a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he
  would have thought necessary.

In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely
  awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough
  to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and
  his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of
  her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite
  equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly.
  -- Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features,
  which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor
  was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget
  their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but
  whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her
  self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's
  mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady
  Catherine to be exactly what he had represented.

When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment
  she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on
  the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at
  her being so thin, and so small. There was neither in figure nor face
  any likeness between the ladies. Miss De Bourgh was pale and sickly;
  her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very
  little, except in a low voice to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance
  there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening
  to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before
  her eyes.

After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows
  to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties,
  and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth
  looking at in the summer.

The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants,
  and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as
  he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table,
  by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish
  nothing greater. -- He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity;
  and every dish was commended, first by him, and then by Sir William,
  who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said, in
  a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady
  Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most
  gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty
  to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready
  to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte
  and Miss De Bourgh -- the former of whom was engaged in listening to
  Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner time.
  Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss De Bourgh
  ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she were indisposed.
  Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing
  but eat and admire.

When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to
  be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission
  till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive
  a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted.
  She enquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely,
  and gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all;
  told her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family
  as her's, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry.
  Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention,
  which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In
  the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety
  of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of
  whose connections she knew the least, and who, she observed to Mrs.
  Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her at different
  times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger
  than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether
  they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her
  father kept, and what had been her mother's maiden name? -- Elizabeth
  felt all the impertinence of her questions, but answered them very composedly.
  -- Lady Catherine then observed,

"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your
  sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see
  no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. -- It was not
  thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. -- Do you play 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 -- You shall 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. The
  Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as your's.
  -- 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 the benefit of
  masters."

"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London."

"Has your governess left you?"

"We never had any governess."

"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up 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 had not
  been the case.

"Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess you
  must have been neglected."

"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as
  wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged 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 if
  I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously
  to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education
  without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can
  give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of
  supplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed
  out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through
  my means; and it was but the other day that I recommended another young
  person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family
  are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe's
  calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. "Lady
  Catherine," said she, "you have 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 the
  second. -- The younger ones out before the elder are married! -- Your
  younger sisters must be very young?"

"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be
  much in company. But really, Ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon
  younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and
  amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to
  marry early. -- The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of
  youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! -- I think
  it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy
  of mind."

"Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion very
  decidedly 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 direct answer;
  and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever
  dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence!

"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, -- therefore you need
  not conceal your age."

"I am not one and twenty."

When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card tables
  were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat
  down to quadrille; and as Miss De Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the
  two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her
  party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was
  uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson
  expressed her fears of Miss De Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or
  having too much or too little light. A great deal more passed at the
  other table, Lady Catherine was generally speaking -- stating the mistakes
  of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins
  was employed in agreeing to every thing her Ladyship said, thanking
  her for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too
  many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes
  and noble names.

When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose,
  the tables were broke up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins,
  gratefully accepted, and immediately ordered. The party then gathered
  round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were
  to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by
  the arrival of the 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 called on by
  her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings,
  which, for Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really
  was. But her commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by
  no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her
  ladyship's praise into his own hands.

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1. Ebooks list page : 81
2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 23
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 40
4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 41
5. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 42
6. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 45
7. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 46
8. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 47
9. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 48
10. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 49
11. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 50
12. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 51
13. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 52
14. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 53
15. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 54
16. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 55