Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 30 The House of Collins
Everything about the next day's journey struck Elizabeth as new and interesting.She was in good spirits, seeing that her sister was looking so good that she could no longer worry about her health, and the thought of traveling to the North made her even happier.When they turned off the high road and took a lane to Hunsford, every eye was searching for the parsonage, and at every turn they thought they would see it.They walked along the fence in Rosings Gardens.Elizabeth couldn't help laughing when she thought of the family and the situation that the outside world had heard about.

At last I saw the vicarage.The garden diagonally across the road, the house in the garden, the green palisade, the laurel hedge—everything seemed to announce their coming.Mr. Collins and Charlotte came to the door.Amidst frequent nods and smiles of the host and guest, the guests parked their cars in front of a small gate, from which they could go directly to the main house through a short cobblestone-paved aisle.In the blink of an eye, they all got out of the car, and the host and guest met each other with infinite joy.Collins greeted his friend with almost dancing, and Elizabeth was all the more satisfied with her visit, being so cordially received.She saw at once that her cousin's marriage had not changed his attitude, that he was still exactly as formal as ever, and that he held her up at the door for several minutes to inquire about the well-being of her family, young and old.After hearing her answer one by one, he was satisfied.Then, without delaying them, but showing them how neat the door was, he led the guests into the house.As soon as the guests entered the living room, he welcomed them for the second time, saying very politely that it was a great honor to have you all come to the humble house this time, and without delay made a new offering of the snacks brought by his wife.

Elizabeth had long expected his elation to be so great, that when he boasted of the beauty of the house, its shape, and all its furnishings, she could not help thinking that he was speaking to her specially, as if to make her understand that she had refused What a loss he is.Although everything is indeed so tidy and comfortable, she must not show any trace of regret to please him. She even looked at Charlotte with surprise. She couldn't understand that Charlotte and such a Why are you so happy when you get along with a partner.

Mr. Collins sometimes said very inappropriate things, which even his wife would have been ashamed to hear, and not very often.Elizabeth could not help looking at Charlotte on such occasions.Charlotte once or twice blushed a little at the sight, but usually cleverly pretended not to hear.After sitting together for some time, admiring every piece of furniture, from the sideboard to the mantelpiece, and talking of the way and all things in London, Mr. Collins invited them to walk in the garden. walk.

The garden is large and well arranged, and everything is taken care of by him himself.His noblest pastime was gardening.Charlotte said it was a healthful operation, and encouraged him as much as she could; and she spoke of it with a calmness which Elizabeth admired.He led them through the winding paths and paths in the garden, saw every scene, and had to talk about each place in trivial terms. Whether it was beautiful or not was not on his mind at all. I can't get in my mouth if I want to praise a few words.He could tell how many fields there were in each direction, even how many trees were in the farthest bush.However, neither the scenery in his own garden nor the scenic spots in the whole country or even the whole country can compare with the scenery of Rosings Manor.Rosings Hall was almost directly opposite his house, surrounded by trees, and could be seen through gaps in the woods.It was a beautiful modern building, standing on a high ground.

Mr. Collins would have taken them out of the garden to look at the two lawns, but the ladies' shoes could not resist the remnants of hoarfrost, and they all went back, leaving Sir William alone for company.Charlotte was overjoyed that she had a chance to show herself, without the assistance of her husband, by accompanying her sister and friends to see the house.The house was small, but solidly constructed and conveniently used, and everything was neatly and harmoniously arranged, and Elizabeth praised Charlotte very much.As long as you don't think of Mr. Collins, there is a really nice atmosphere.Elizabeth, seeing Charlotte's self-satisfaction, could not help thinking that Mr. Collins must not have taken much of her heart at ordinary times.

Elizabeth had found out that Lady Catherine was still in the country.The matter was brought up again at dinner, and Mr. Collins interrupted at once: "Exactly, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honor of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh in church on Sunday evening, and you will love her. She is extremely modest and has no airs, and I'm sure you'll be honored to have her eye on you after church that day. I don't hesitate to say that as long as you're here, whenever she's kind enough to have us as guests It is always necessary to invite you and my sister-in-law Maria. She treated my dear Charlotte very well. We dined at Rosings twice a week, and she never once let us walk home. Always sent us her own carriage—one of her old man's, I should say, because she had several."

Charlotte added: "Lady Catherine is indeed a dignified, elegant, sensible woman, and a most obliging neighbour."

"That's right, my dear, and you really mean it. No matter how much respect you have for a lady like her, you still feel a little wanting."

The evening was chiefly concerned with news from Hertfordshire, repeating what had been said in previous letters.After everyone dispersed, Elizabeth was alone in the room, and could not help silently thinking to what extent Charlotte was satisfied with the status quo, how skillfully she controlled her husband, and how much she tolerated her husband.She had to admit that everything was arranged very well.She went back to imagining how this visit would be spent, nothing more than the ordinary and quiet daily life, Mr. Collins's annoying gags, and the entertainment with Rosings.Her fertile imagination solved the whole problem at once.

Around noon the next day, she was preparing to go for a walk in her room when she heard a commotion downstairs, and immediately everyone in the house seemed to panic.After a while, someone hurried upstairs and called her loudly.She opened the door and met Maria on the stairs, who, out of breath with excitement, exclaimed: "Oh, dear Elizabeth, please hurry to the dining-room, there is a great scene to be seen." Well! I won't tell you what's the matter. Come on down, right now."

Elizabeth asked again and again, but couldn't find out the truth, and Maria refused to tell her a word.So the two of them rushed into the dining-room facing the road, to explore.It turned out that there were two female guests in a low four-wheeled carriage and stopped at the garden gate.

Elizabeth hurriedly yelled: "Is that the case? I thought it was a pig that broke into the garden. It turned out that it was just Lady Catherine and her daughter."

Maria was taken aback by her mistake: "Look, my dear, that's not Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkins, who lives with them; the other is Miss de Bourgh. You and Look at her. She's a very tiny creature. Who'd have thought she'd be so thin, so weak!"

"It was very rude of her to keep Charlotte out in such a wind. Why didn't she come in?"

"Oh," said Charlotte, "it's a rare thing for her to come in, and it would be a great honor to Miss de Bourgh if she came in once."

"She's a sight to behold," said Elizabeth, while other thoughts suddenly occurred to her. "She looks ill and has a bad temper. She's a perfect match for him. She's a perfect wife for him."

Both Mr. Collins and Charlotte stood at the door talking to the lady guest.What Elizabeth found most amusing was that Sir William was standing at the door reverently, looking reverently at the distinguished guest before him, and whenever Miss de Bourgh looked in his direction, he always bowed.

When they had finished speaking, the two ladies drove away, and the others returned to the house.As soon as Collins saw the two ladies, he congratulated them on their luck.Charlotte explained to them what he meant, that Rosings was going to invite them all to dinner again on the morrow.

(End of this chapter)