CHAPTER VII
Sir William staid only a week at Hunsford; but his visit was long enough to convince him of his son's being most comfortably settled, and of his possessing such a wife and such a neighbour as were not often met with. While Sir William was with them, Mrs. Lucas devoted her mornings to showing him the country, since he was the only one of her guests to flatter her with a particular interest in it; but when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Edward was thankful to find that they did not see more of his cousin by the alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by her either at work about the house, attending to Lady Catherine's instructions, or in reading and looking out of the window in the book room, where she was often joined by Maria, and which fronted the road. The room in which the gentlemen sat was backwards. Edward had at first rather wondered that Charles should not prefer the dining parlour for common use; it was a better sized room, and had a more pleasant aspect; but he soon saw that his friend had an excellent reason for what he did, for Mrs. Lucas would undoubtedly have been much less in her own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and he gave Charles credit for the arrangement.
From the drawing room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Mrs. Lucas for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often especially Miss de Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which she never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. Miss de Bourgh not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Lucas, but was scarcely ever prevailed on to get out.
Very few days passed in which Mrs. Lucas did not walk to Rosings, and not many in which her husband did not think it necessary to go likewise; and till Edward recollected that there might be other family livings to be disposed of, he could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now and then, they were honoured with a call from her Ladyship, and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture; or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Lucas's joints of meat were too large for her family.
Edward soon perceived that though this great lady was not in commission of the peace for the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mrs. Lucas; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty.
The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few, as the style of living in the neighbourhood in general, was beyond the reach of Mr. and Mrs. Lucas. This however was no evil to Edward, and upon the whole he spent his time comfortably enough; there were half hours of pleasant conversation with Charles, and the weather was so fine for the time of year, that he had often great enjoyment out of doors. His favourite walk, and where he frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but himself, and where he felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.
In this quiet way, the first fortnight of his visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it, was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. Edward had heard soon after his arrival, that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of his acquaintance whom he did not prefer, the gentleman's coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties; and he might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Catherine; who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Mr. Lucas and himself.
His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage, for Mrs. Lucas was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it; and after making her bow as the carriage turned into the Park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning she hastened to Rosings to pay her respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his uncle, Lord — and to the great surprise of all the party, when Mrs. Lucas returned the gentlemen accompanied her. Charles had seen them from the book room, crossing the lane from the Parsonage, and immediately running into the other, told Edward and his sister what an honour they might expect, adding,
'I may thank you, Edward, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me.'
Edward had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the two gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty; not as handsome as his cousin, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire, paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mr. Lucas; and whatever might be his feelings towards his friend, met him with every appearance of composure. Edward merely bowed to him, without saying a word.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the Parsonage and its garden, sat for some time without speaking to any body. At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Edward after the health of his family. He answered him in the usual way, and after a moment's pause, added,
'My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there?'
He was perfectly sensible that Mr. Darcy never had; but he wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane; and Edward thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.
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