1COLONEL 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. 2It 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. 3For the last week they had seen very little
of either Lady Catherine or her daughter. 4Colonel Fitzwilliam had called
at the Parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had
only seen at church.
5The invitation was accepted, of course, and at a proper hour they joined
the party in Lady Catherine’s drawing-room. 6Her 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.
7Colonel 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 very much. 8He 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. 9His 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,—
10“What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? 11What is it you are talking
of? 12What are you telling Miss Bennet? 13Let me hear what it is.”
14“We were talking of music, madam,” said he, when no longer able to avoid
a reply.
15“Of music! 16Then pray speak aloud. 17It is of all subjects my delight. 18I
must have my share in the conversation, if you are speaking of music.
19There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true
enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. 20If I had ever
learnt, I should have been a great proficient. 21And so would Anne, if her
health had allowed her to apply. 22I am confident that she would have
performed delightfully. 23How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?”
24Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister’s proficiency.
25“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.”
26“I assure you, madam,” he replied, “that she does not need such advice.
27She practises very constantly.”
28“So much the better. 29It cannot be done too much; and when I next write
to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. 30I often
tell young ladies, that no excellence in music is to be acquired without
constant practice. 31I 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. 32She would be in nobody’s way, you know, in that part
of the house.”
33Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill-breeding, and made
no answer.
34When coffee was over, Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having
promised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. 35He
drew a chair near her. 36Lady 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 pianoforte,
stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer’s
countenance. 37Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first
convenient pause turned to him with an arch smile, and said,—
38“You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear
me. 39But I will not be alarmed, though your sister does play so well.
40There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at
the will of others. 41My courage always rises with every attempt to
intimidate me.”
42“I shall not say that you are mistaken,” he replied, “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.”
43Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to
Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of
me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. 44I am particularly unlucky
in meeting with a person so well able to expose my real character, in a
part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree
of credit. 45Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention
all that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire—and, give me
leave to say, very impolitic too—for it is provoking me to retaliate,
and such things may come out as will shock your relations to hear.”
46“I am not afraid of you,” said he, smilingly.
47“Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of,” cried Colonel
Fitzwilliam. 48“I should like to know how he behaves among strangers.”
49“You shall hear, then—but prepare for something very dreadful. 50The
first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must know, was at
a ball—and at this ball, what do you think he did? 51He danced only four
dances! 52I am sorry to pain you, but so it was. 53He danced only four
dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more
than one young lady was sitting down in want of a partner. 54Mr. Darcy,
you cannot deny the fact.”
55“I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly
beyond my own party.”
56“True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball-room. 57Well, Colonel
Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? 58My fingers wait your orders.”
59“Perhaps,” said Darcy, “I should have judged better had I sought an
introduction, but I am ill-qualified to recommend myself to strangers.”
60“Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?” said Elizabeth, still
addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. 61“Shall we ask him why a man of sense and
education, and who has lived in the world, is ill-qualified to recommend
himself to strangers?”
62“I can answer your question,” said Fitzwilliam, “without applying to
him. 63It is because he will not give himself the trouble.”
64“I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy,
“of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. 65I cannot
catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their
concerns, as I often see done.”
66“My fingers,” said Elizabeth, “do not move over this instrument in the
masterly manner which I see so many women’s do. 67They have not the same
force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. 68But then I
have always supposed it to be my own fault—because I would not take
the trouble of practising. 69It is not that I do not believe my fingers
as capable as any other woman’s of superior execution.”
70Darcy smiled and said, “You are perfectly right. 71You have employed your
time much better. 72No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can
think anything wanting. 73We neither of us perform to strangers.”
74Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know
what they were talking of. 75Elizabeth immediately began playing again.
76Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said
to Darcy,—
77“Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and
could have the advantage of a London master. 78She has a very good notion
of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne’s. 79Anne would have
been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn.”
80Elizabeth 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; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss
De Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have
been just as likely to marry her, had she been his relation.
81Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth’s performance, mixing
with them many instructions on execution and taste. 82Elizabeth 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.