Page 29 of Hard Home

She was very quick, and she had a gift that read intent, and she had not needed it: she had seen his hand on the doorframe, and she had seen the frown, and she had heard the wordintroduced, and she was two-and-twenty and not a fool.

The house had not answered him.

And he had come into it, with Lady Catherine de Bourgh's advice in his pocket-book, to find something of the old blood in it that would open the door — and there were five of those in the drawing room, drinking tea, and one of them was fifteen.

Chapter Fourteen

During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable.

Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behavior in a person of rank — such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honor of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening.

"Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, buthehad never seen any thing but affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighborhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionally for a week or two to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage; where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself — some shelves in the closets up stairs."

"That is all very proper and civil, I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet, "and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pitythat great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?"

"The garden in which stands my humble abode, is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her Ladyship's residence."

"I think you said she was a widow, sir? has she any family?"

"She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property."

"Ah!" cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she is better off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? is she handsome?"

"She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex; because there is that in her features which marks the young woman of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not otherwise have failed of; but she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies."

"Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court."

"Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine myself one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornament. Her Ladyship seemed pleased with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies."

"That is very true," said Mr. Bennet, "and it is fortunate that you have the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?"

"They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting andarranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible."

Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped; and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure.

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Elizabeth was not enjoying herself.

She had begun, somewhere about the second dish, to hear a second story running underneath the first, told in the same words, by a man who did not know he was telling it.

"Her Ladyship's condescension in the parish," Mr. Collins was saying, "is such as I have never met with elsewhere and hardly know how to describe. She does not confine herself to the church, nor to the poor-box, as too many great ladies do. She goes into the cottages herself. Wherever there is a quarrel among the tenants — a disputed boundary, a young woman badly used, an old man who will not be moved out of a house that is falling upon him — her Ladyship goes in person and settles it, and I do assure you, sir, that she has never once failed. Not once in eleven months. The parties are perfectly reconciled before she leaves the room."

"Always?" said Elizabeth.

"Invariably, cousin Elizabeth."

"And afterwards? Do they stay reconciled?"

Mr. Collins considered this a very odd question, and said so, and then said that upon his word he believed they did, though he had noticed that people who had been settled by her Ladyship were often rather quiet for some time afterwards, which he attributed to a proper sense of the honor done them.

"And Miss de Bourgh," said Elizabeth. "She has never been presented, you say. Not even in a good season?"

"Alas, her health—"

"Has she taken any part in the business of the parish? Stood godmother, perhaps? Witnessed anything?"

"I do not perfectly follow you."