Pride and Prejudice and Kitties, стр. 21
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 body 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.”
I just want to see what happens at the end.
ON THE MORNING Elizabeth and Maria were to leave Hunsford, Mr. Collins attacked Elizabeth over breakfast with protracted civilities and gratitude for her condescension in visiting them.
“How dull it must have been for you here, my dear cousin,” said he, “with our small rooms, solitary hours, and few humans (though I flatter myself that may be an advantage). However,” he went on, “you have been so fortunate as to dine frequently at Rosings.”
Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was obliged to walk about the room. Elizabeth stifled a yawn and tried to look attentive.
“No one who knows our intimacy with Lady Cat can think us unfortunate,” Mr. Collins went on after a moment. “My dear Charlotte and I trot over there nearly every day. You see what footing we’re on!” he cried, ostentatiously grooming himself. “How fortunate an alliance your friend has made.”
Elizabeth assented to all he said. But to herself she thought: Poor Charlotte! It was melancholy indeed, to leave her to such society. But Charlotte appeared tolerably cheerful. Her home, her humans, her poultry, and her prey had not lost their charms.
Maria and Elizabeth soon boarded the carriage and curled up under the seat. Elizabeth looked forward with pleasure to seeing her aunt and uncle in London, and especially her sister, Jane. How much she would have to tell her, she thought as the carriage wheels rumbled along. And how much she would have to conceal.
If she could only determine which was which!
“It gives me the greatest pleasure [said Mr. Collins] to hear that you have passed your time not disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and most fortunately having it in our power to introduce you to very superior society, and from our connection with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the humble home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Hunsford visit cannot have been entirely irksome. Our situation with regard to Lady Catherine’s family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage and blessing which few can boast. You see on what a footing we are. You see how continually we are engaged there. In truth I must acknowledge that, with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should not think anyone abiding in it an object of compassion, while they are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings.”
Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility with truth in a few short sentences.
“You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself at least that you will be able to do so. Lady Catherine’s great attentions to Mrs. Collins you have been a daily witness of, and altogether I trust it does not appear that your friend has drawn an unfortunate—but on this point it will be as well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in every thing a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.”
IN MAY, ELIZABETH, Jane, and Maria left London for Longbourn (without a veterinarian, in spite of Lady Cat’s advice and admonitions). When they changed carriages, they were surprised to find Lydia and Kitty waiting for them at the inn. They had been waiting for an hour, during which they occupied themselves arranging cold meats and crunchies and attacking a bonnet.
“I intend to destroy it completely when we get home,” Lydia announced. “I dare say it will look better torn to pieces. Anyway,” she added, looking dejected, “it doesn’t signify whether our bonnets are in pieces or not, for the militia are leaving Meryton and going to Brighton.”
Thank goodness! thought Elizabeth. Perhaps Kitty and Lydia will stop chasing all the cats in the militia and settle down!
“The militia is to be encamped near Brighton,” continued Lydia, “and I do so want papa to take us all there for the summer!”
Elizabeth shuddered at the thought of Lydia