Gay Pride and Prejudice (24 page)

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. However, he looked perfectly composed as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet in town. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen and ladies soon afterwards went away.

As they left the room, Caroline appeared inclined to linger, but Mrs. Hurst rushed her out the door, turning to cast an antagonistic eye on Elizabeth, who viewed the entire episode with a degree of confusion that bordered on disbelief.

Their visitors gone, Charlotte gazed at Elizabeth and said: “Mrs. Hurst appeared surprised to discover you here.”

Elizabeth had not paid any attention to Mrs. Hurst. “Did she, really?”

Before this line of inquiry could be pursued, Mr. Collins began to hold forth on the incredible kindness and respect the gentlemen and ladies had shewn him on coming to his home, a speech that took nearly the rest of the afternoon to deliver. His conversational meandering allowed Elizabeth time to reconsider the events of the morning. Why had Caroline denied seeing Jane? And what could be the reason for the tension between her and her elder sister? Except, of course, Elizabeth thought she might know one explanation for why Louisa guarded Caroline so attentively. At the Netherfield ball, Caroline had alluded to Louisa’s hostility toward her disposition, had she not? Perhaps Mrs. Hurst’s governance of Caroline was stricter than anyone knew; perhaps that was even why Elizabeth had failed to receive a reply to her letter.

Before her imagination could busy itself with excuses for Miss Bingley’s past transgressions, Elizabeth recollected Caroline’s recent treatment of Jane. Since first coming into Hertfordshire, the Bingleys had proven themselves unpardonably inconsistent in both action and affection; and no matter the explanation, there could be no satisfactory excuse for how they had abused Jane, who had been nothing but good to them all. Resolutely, Elizabeth turned her attention back to her needlepoint, while Mr. Collins droned on in tones of ever more self-important reverence.

Chapter Thirty-One

C
OLONEL
F
ITZWILLIAM'S MANNERS
were very much admired at the Parsonage, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasures 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 arrival of Lady Catherine’s guests, 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 Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the Parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy and the Bingley sisters they had seen only 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; anything was a welcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins’s pretty friend had moreover caught his fancy. 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 that of Miss Bingley, seated next to Charlotte. Caroline’s eyes turned towards them frequently, Elizabeth could not help but notice; and her ladyship, who evidently shared the younger lady’s interest, did not scruple to call out: “What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking of? Let me hear what it is you are telling Miss Bennet.”

“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 practice a good 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 pianoforte 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. But Caroline said, “I have heard Miss Bennet play, and I dare say she is one of the more accomplished ladies I know.” And she smiled at Elizabeth while appearing not to notice the lowered brow of the lady of the house, at this notable refutation of her opinion. Elizabeth gazed coolly at her defender, hoping her agitation did not show on her face. Why should Caroline compliment her, at the risk of offending Darcy’s powerful aunt? It did not make sense, not in the least.

When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having promised to play for 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 to Mrs. Hurst, who was seated beside her. With her elder sister’s attention thus captured, Caroline made her way to the pianoforte and stationed herself so as to command a full view of the fair performer’s countenance.

Elizabeth saw what she was doing, and at the first convenient pause, turned to her with a raised eyebrow, and said: “You mean to frighten me, Miss Bingley? I will not be alarmed, though you, I own,
are
the better musician.”

“I will not say you have mistaken my purpose,” replied she, “because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own.”

Despite her intention to remain cold, Elizabeth couldn’t help laughing at this picture of herself, and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Your cousin’s friend will give you a very pretty notion of me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. Indeed, Miss Bingley, it is very impolitic in you to mention what you learned to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire, for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such things may come out as will shock your friends.”

“Do your worse. I am not afraid,” said she, smiling in challenge.

To her irritation, Elizabeth found herself longing to succumb to Caroline’s charm, and turned instead to her other audience: “Well, Colonel Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers await your orders.”

Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy, who had accompanied her: “Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne’s. Anne would have been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn.”

Caroline, unbeknownst to Lady Catherine, gave Elizabeth such a look of amused derision that it was all the latter could do to hold in her laughter. To distract herself, she looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his cousin’s praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love.

Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth’s performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the gentlemen, remained at the instrument till her ladyship’s carriage was ready to take them all home.

Chapter Thirty-Two

E
LIZABETH 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. As she had heard no carriage, she thought it not unlikely to be Lady Catherine, and under that apprehension was putting away her half-finished letter that she might escape all impertinent questions, when the door opened, and, to her very great surprise, Caroline Bingley entered the room, quite on her own.

She seemed astonished too on finding Elizabeth alone, and apologised for the intrusion by letting it be known that she had understood all the ladies were to be within.

They then sat down, and when the usual civilities had been exchanged, Elizabeth took a moment to shore up her resolve to remain impassive, for it had become clear the previous evening that her feelings were not as indifferent to Caroline as she might wish. Then she raised a topic that had been at the front of her mind since the unexpected renewal of their acquaintance: “How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November, Miss Bingley. It must have been a most agreeable surprise to your brother to see you all after him so soon; for, if I recollect right, he went but the day before. He was quite well, I hope, when you left London?”

“Perfectly so, thank you.”

“And why is he not here with your party?”

“He had business to attend to, but may join us yet.”

“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. He has many friends, and is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing.”

“If he means to be but little at Netherfield, it would be better for the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely, for then we might possibly get a settled family there. But perhaps Mr. Bingley did not take the house so much for the convenience of the neighbourhood as for his own, and we must expect him to keep it or quit it on the same principle.”

“I should not be surprised,” said Caroline, “if he were to give it up as soon as any eligible purchase offers.”

Elizabeth made no answer. She was afraid of her anger rising if they spoke any longer of Netherfield.

“This seems a very comfortable house,” added Caroline. “Lady Catherine tells us that she did a great deal to it when Mr. Collins first came to Hunsford.”

“I had heard that as well—and I am sure she could not have bestowed her kindness on a more grateful object.”

“Mr. Collins appears to be very fortunate in his choice of a wife.”

“Yes, indeed, his friends may well rejoice in his having met with one of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him. My friend has an excellent understanding—though I am not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins to be the wisest thing she ever did. She seems happy enough, however, and in a prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her.”

“It must be very agreeable for her to be settled within so easy a distance of her own family and friends.”

“An easy distance, do you call it? It is nearly fifty miles.”

“And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day’s journey. Yes, I call it a
very
easy distance.”

“I should never have considered the distance as one of the advantages of the match,” said Elizabeth.

“It is a proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire, or perhaps to the lady. Anything beyond the very neighbourhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far.”

As she spoke there was a type of knowing smile which Elizabeth fancied she understood; and she coloured as she answered: “I do not mean to say that a woman may not be settled too near her family. Where there is fortune to make the expenses of travelling unimportant, distance becomes no evil. But that is not the case
here
.”

Caroline leaned a little nearer, and said, “You cannot have a right anymore to such a very strong attachment, surely.”

Elizabeth withdrew slightly. “My attachments are my own business, Miss Bingley, and certainly none of yours.”

Caroline experienced some change of feeling; she drew back her chair and said, in a cooler tone: “Are you pleased with Kent, then?”

A short dialogue on the subject of the country ensued, on either side calm and concise—and soon put an end to by the entrance of Charlotte and her sister, just returned from their walk. The tête-à-tête surprised them. Miss Bingley related the mistake which had occasioned her intruding on Miss Bennet, and after sitting a few minutes longer without saying much, went away. Maria left the room shortly after, and the two old friends were alone.

“What can be the meaning of this?” said Charlotte.

“I do not know what you mean.”

“My dear Eliza, Miss Bingley would never have called on us in this familiar way if you were not here. It is you she wanted to see.”

But when Elizabeth revealed the strained nature of their conversation, choosing not to share their brief debate over the distance of Hunsford from Hertfordshire, it did not seem very likely, even to Charlotte’s mind, to be the case; and after various conjectures, they could at last only suppose her visit to proceed from the difficulty of finding anything to do, which was the more probable. Within doors there was Lady Catherine, books, and a billiard-table, but being within doors at Rosings was not always an entertaining experience, as they understood; and in the nearness of the Parsonage, or the pleasantness of the walk to it, or of the people who lived in it, Lady Catherine’s visitors soon found a temptation they began to answer by walking thither almost every day. They called at various times of the morning, sometimes singly, sometimes in a group, and now and then accompanied by Lady Catherine herself. It was plain to them all that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he had pleasure in their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him still more; and Elizabeth was reminded by her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his evident admiration of her, of her affection for George Wickham; and though, in comparing them, she saw there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s manners, she believed he might have the best informed mind of the two.