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 inquire 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.
Chapter 31
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.’
