Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 35

Sir William was but a week at Hansford; but his visit had been enough to convince him that his daughter's married life was very easy, and that his daughter was indeed married to a wonderful husband, And her neighbor is also rare.When Sir William was here, Mr. Collins used to take him out every morning in his hansom for a drive, and show him the country; and when he was gone, the family resumed their usual lives, Elizabeth was glad to find that this change did not invite her cousin to haunt them, for between breakfast and lunch Mr. Collins was either working in the garden or reading in his own study. Writing, and sometimes looking out from the window facing the street.The sitting room, where the ladies stayed, was just inside.Elizabeth wondered at first why Carlotti did not use the dining room as a living room; the dining room was spacious and comfortable, with much better light and views than the former; however, she soon understood that her friend did her best Mr. Collins would have spent much less time in his own room if they had stayed in an equally comfortable room; and she admired Carlotta's arrangement.

From the sitting-room they could not look across the street, and thanks to Mr. Collins they knew what kind of carriages were going by, especially Miss de Bourgh's pony-carriage passed the alley a few times, yes. Not once did Mr. Collins fail to report such a thing, although it happened almost every day.Mademoiselle de Bourgh often stopped in front of the Vicarage to talk to Carlotte for a few minutes, but rarely asked her to get out of the car.

It was not a day or two since Mr. Collins was going to walk to Rosings to see him, and his wife felt equally obliged to go there; Only when she was getting paid, did she understand why they were willing to spend so much time.From time to time they also had the honor of being visited by Lady Catherine, and during such visits nothing that happened in the house escaped her eye.She inspected their work, and watched them do their chores, and advised them to do them differently; and found fault with the arrangement of the furniture, or that the housemaids were lazy; if she Willing to have something to eat here, it seems, only to find out that Mrs. Collins spends too much money on food and expenses to make ends meet.

Elizabeth soon discovered that this wonderful lady was also the most active administrative judge in her parish, and Mr. Collins would report to her the most important things that happened in the parish, even though this lady did not serve as any security officer in the village. Responsibilities: Whenever there are villagers who want to quarrel and make trouble, or have any dissatisfaction, or are too poor to survive, she will personally drive to the village to resolve their disputes, suppress our grievances, and scold us. Their anger disappeared, and they no longer cried poor.

The Rosings feasts were repeated about twice a week; and though the absence of Sir William left only a single table for the evening's game of cards, each feast was carried on in the same manner as the last.The Collinses seldom had any other appointments; for the way of life of the neighbors was generally out of their reach.This was nothing to Elizabeth, however, who, on the whole, passed her time comfortably; often having pleasant half-hours of conversation with Carlotta, and at the best time of year, she was often at Great pleasure in walking outdoors.When everyone else was calling on Lady Catherine, she used to go out for a pleasant walk along a grove which adjoined the garden, and beside it was a well-shaded path. No one else seemed to notice much, but she liked it, and there she felt she was in a place where Lady Catherine's curiosity could not pry her.

Thus the first fortnight of her stay passed peacefully.Easter was drawing near, and a week before it there was to be a visitor at the Rosings house, which of course was a great event in such a small place in the country.Elizabeth had heard, soon after her arrival, that Mr. Darcy was coming in a few weeks; The arrival of Rosings would still add a little novelty to Rosings' feast, and she might be pleased when she saw his relationship with his cousin (Lady Catherine must have asked him to marry her) so that Miss Bingley's solicitude for him was in vain; Lady Catherine, delighted at the mention of his coming, was full of praise for him, and after hearing that Lucas and Elizabeth had seen him many times themselves, She seemed on the verge of getting angry when Mr. Darcy was approached.

The news of Mr. Darcy's arrival was first known at the Vicarage, for Mr. Collins had spent the morning walking up and down the servants' quarters in his garden, in order to obtain the definite news as early as possible; After bowing and watching the man turn into Rosings' garden, he hurried back to report the great news.Next morning he hurried to Rosings to pay his respects to the distinguished guest.It was Lady Catherine's nephews who were there to pay his homage, for Mr. Darcy had also brought Colonel Fitzwilliam, a young son of his uncle.Good heavens—what surprised them most was that Mr. Collins returned with two distinguished guests.Carlotta saw the three of them crossing the road from her husband's room, and immediately ran into the other room, and told the girls what a great honor was about to befall them, and said: :
"This time a nobleman came to the door, Elizabeth, I should be thanking you. Mr. Darcy would never be so eager to see me when he first came here."

Before Elizabeth had time to deny this compliment, they rang the bell, and presently the three gentlemen entered the room.In the front is Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is about 30 years old and not handsome, but he can be called an out-and-out gentleman from his appearance to his conversation.Mr. Darcy, as he had been in Hertfordshire, greeted Mr. and Mrs. Collinses with his usual reserve; whatever his actual feelings for Elizabeth might have been, he was very pleased to see her now. calm and composed.Elizabeth just curtseyed to him without saying a word.

Colonel Fitzwilliam immediately fell into conversation with everyone, and he was easy, well-bred, and very interested; Sitting there for a long time without talking to anyone.At last, I do not know what reminded him of due courtesy, and he asked Elizabeth if her family was well. Elizabeth answered him a few words as usual; after a moment of silence, he added:
"My sister has been living in the city these three months. Have you never met her?"

She knew perfectly well that he had not seen his sister in town; and she asked to see if he would not give away his knowledge of the entanglement between the Bingleys and Jane; she I thought he looked flustered as he said that he had never had the pleasure of meeting Miss Bennet.Elizabeth asked no further questions, and the two guests soon left.

(End of this chapter)