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Sir William stayed a week at Hunsford. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. From the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in the lane.
Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings. Elizabeth soon perceived, that though the great lady was not in commission of the peace of the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish.
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. 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.
In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching. Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks. Lady Catherine talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration.
His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage. On the following morning Mr. Collins 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. Charlotte had seen them from her husband’s room, crossing the road.
Colonel Fitzwilliam 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, with his usual reserve. Elizabeth after a moment’s pause, said:
“My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you seen her there?”
She knew perfectly that Mr. Darcy never had, and she thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had not met Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.
For the last week they had seen very little of Lady Catherine or her daughter. Mr. Darcy they had seen only at church.
Some days passed before they were invited to the great Lady. The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine’s drawing-room.
Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them. He seated himself by Elizabeth, and talked so agreeably of new books and music, that Elizabeth had never been half so well entertained in that room before. They drew 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. Lady Catherine called 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 please speak aloud. 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 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 pianoforte in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room. She would be in nobody’s way, you know, in that part of the house.”
When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of her promising 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 making with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte stationed himself. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first convenient pause, turned to him with a smile, and said:
“You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming to hear me?”
“I shall not say you are mistaken,” he replied, “I know that you find great enjoyment in professing opinions which in fact are not your own.”
Elizabeth laughed heartily, and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Your cousin will teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meeting with a person so able to expose my real character.”
“I am not afraid of you,” said he. “I certainly have not the talent which some people possess, of conversing easily with people I have never seen before.”
Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy:
“Miss Bennet would play better if she practised more. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne’s. Anne would have been a delightful performer, if her health allowed her to learn.”
Elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Jane while Mrs. Collins and Maria were gone on business into the village, when she was startled by a ring at the door, the certain signal of a visitor. The door opened, and, to her very great surprise, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy only, entered the room.
He said that he had hoped to see all the ladies.
They then sat down. It was absolutely necessary, therefore, to think of something, so she observed:
“How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy! It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Bingley to see you all after him so soon; for, if I recollect right, he went but the day before. He and his sisters were well, I hope, when you left London?”
“Perfectly so, I thank you.”
“I think I have understood that Mr. Bingley has not much idea of ever returning to Netherfield again?”
“I have never heard him say so; but it is probable that he may spend very little of his time there in the future,” said Darcy, “I should not be surprised, if he moved as soon as possible.”
Elizabeth made no answer. She was afraid of talking longer of his friend; and, having nothing else to say, was silent.
“This seems a very comfortable house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. Collins first came to Hunsford.”
“I believe she did.”
“Mr. Collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a wife.”
“Yes, indeed, his friends may well rejoice. My friend is an excellent wife, I suppose.”
Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her, and said, in a colder voice:
“Are you pleased with Kent?”
A short dialogue on the subject of the country followed, on either side calm and concise. Charlotte and her sister returned from their walk. Mr. Darcy after sitting a few minutes longer without saying much to anybody, went away.
“What can be the meaning of this?” said Charlotte, as soon as he was gone. “My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you.”
Why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parson-age, it was difficult to understand. He frequently sat there ten minutes together without opening his lips; and when he did speak, he spoke very little.
Charlotte had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of his loving her, but Elizabeth always laughed at the idea; and Mrs. Collins did not think it right to press the subject.
More than once did Elizabeth, in her walking in the park, unexpectedly meet Mr. Darcy. How it could occur, therefore, was very odd! Yet it did. He never said much, nor did she give herself the trouble of talking or of listening much.
But one day, instead of meeting Mr. Darcy, she saw Colonel Fitzwilliam. Forcing a smile, she said:
“I did not know before that you ever walked this way.”
“I have been making the tour of the park,” he replied, “as I generally do every year. Are you going much farther?”
“No, I am going to turn in a moment.”
And they walked towards the Parsonage together.
“Do you certainly leave Kent on Saturday?” said she.
“Yes – if Darcy does not put it off again,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “But I am at his disposal. He arranges the business just as he pleases. He likes to have his own way very well. But so we all do. He is rich, and many others are poor. Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are few people in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some money.”
“Is this,” thought Elizabeth, “meant for me?” and she coloured. “Mr. Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr. Bingley, and takes care of him.”
“Care of him! Yes, I really believe Darcy does take care of him in those points where he most wants care. I have reason to think Bingley very much indebted to him. But I have no right to suppose that Bingley was the person meant.”
“What do you mean?”
“What he told me was merely this: that he congratulated himself: he saved a friend from the most imprudent marriage, but without mentioning names, and I only suspected it to be Bingley.”
“Did Mr. Darcy give you reasons for this interference?”
“I understood that there were some very strong objections against the lady.”
“And what did he do to separate them?”
“He did not tell me,” said Fitzwilliam, smiling. “He only told me what I have now told you.”
Elizabeth made no answer, and walked on, her heart swelling with indignation. After watching her a little, Fitzwilliam asked her why she was so thoughtful.
“I am thinking of what you have told me,” said she. “Your cousin’s behaviour does not suit my feelings. I do not see what right Mr. Darcy had to decide for his friend. But,” she continued, “as we know nothing, it is not fair to condemn him.”
They reached the Parsonage. There, shut into her own room, as soon as their visitor left them, Elizabeth could think without interruption of all that she had heard. Mr. Darcy separated Bingley and Jane! He was the cause, his pride and caprice were the cause, of all that Jane had suffered, and still continued to suffer. He had ruined every hope of happiness for the most affectionate, generous heart in the world.
“There were some very strong objections against the lady,” were Colonel Fitzwilliam’s words; and those strong objections probably were, her having one uncle who was a country attorney, and another who was in business in London.
“To Jane herself,” she exclaimed, “there could be no objection; all loveliness and goodness as she is! Neither could anything be said against my father.” When she thought of her mother, her confidence went away; but she would not allow that any objections there had material for Mr. Darcy.
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