PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 30

Description

SIR WILLIAM staid
only a week at Hunsford; but his visit was long enough to convince him
of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, and of her possessing
such a husband and such a neighbour as were not often met with. While
Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to driving
him out in his gig and shewing him the country; but when he went away,
the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was
thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin by the alteration,
for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed
by him either at work in the garden, or in reading and writing, and looking
out of window in his own book room, which fronted the road. The room in
which the ladies sat was backwards. Elizabeth at first had rather wondered
that Charlotte should not prefer the dining parlour for common use; it
was a better sized room, and had a pleasanter aspect; but she soon saw
that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins
would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment, had they sat
in one equally lively; and she gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement.


From the drawing room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and
were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went
along, and how often especially Miss De Bourgh drove by in her phaeton,
which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost
every day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few
minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed
on to get out.

Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings,
  and not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise;
  and till Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings
  to be disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many
  hours. Now and then, they were honoured with a call from her ladyship,
  and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during
  these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work,
  and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement
  of the furniture, or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she
  accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding
  out that Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family.

Elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was not in the
  commission of the peace for the county, she was a most active magistrate
  in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her
  by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be
  quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village
  to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them
  into harmony and plenty.

The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a
  week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only
  one card table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart
  of the first. Their other engagements were few; as the style of living
  of the neighbourhood in general was beyond the Collinses' reach. This,
  however, was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her
  time comfortably enough; there were half hours of pleasant conversation
  with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year, that
  she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and
  where she frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine,
  was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there
  was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself,
  and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.

In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away.
  Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition
  to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important.
  Elizabeth had heard, soon after her arrival, that Mr. Darcy was expected
  there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of
  her acquaintance whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one
  comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and she might
  be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were,
  by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by
  Lady Catherine; who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction,
  spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry
  to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself.

His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage, for Mr. Collins was walking
  the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane,
  in order to have the earliest assurance of it; and after making his
  bow as the carriage turned into the park, hurried home with the great
  intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay
  his respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them,
  for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger
  son of his uncle, Lord ----; and to the great surprise of all the party,
  when Mr. Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte
  had seen them, from her husband's room, crossing the road, and immediately
  running into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect,
  adding,

"I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would
  never have come so soon to wait upon me."

Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment,
  before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards
  the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the
  way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most
  truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been used to look
  in Hertfordshire, paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs.
  Collins; and whatever might be his feelings towards her friend, met
  her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely curtseyed to
  him, without saying a word.

Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness
  and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin,
  after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden
  to Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to any body. At
  length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Elizabeth
  after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual way, and
  after a moment's pause, added,

"My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never
  happened to see her there?"

She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see
  whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between
  the Bingleys and Jane; and she thought he looked a little confused as
  he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet.
  The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards
  went away.

$$ Buy "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 30" on Amazon $$

Please check the description for download links if any or do a search to find alternative books.

Can't Download?
Please search mirrors if you can't find download links for "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 30" in "Description" and someone else may update the links. Check the comments when back to find any updates.

Search Mirrors
Maybe some mirror pages will be helpful, search this book at top of this page or click here to find more info.

1. Ebooks list page : 81
2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 58
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 44
4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 42
5. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 41
6. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 40
7. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 39
8. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 38
9. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 11
10. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 12
11. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 45
12. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 46
13. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 49
14. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 57
15. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 56
16. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 55