PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 31

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COLONEL Fitzwilliam's
manners were very much admired at the parsonage, and the ladies all felt
that he must add considerably to the pleasure 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 either Lady Catherine or her daughter.
Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the parsonage more than once during
the time, but Mr. Darcy they had only seen 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; any thing 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 practise a great 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 piano forte
  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 moving with his usual deliberation towards the piano
  forte, 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? But 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 with every attempt to
  intimidate me."

"I shall not say that 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 well 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! I am sorry to pain you -- but so it was. 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 would
  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 any thing 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.

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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