CHAPTER XIV
The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning; and Mrs. Lucas having been in waiting near the lodges, to make them her parting obeisance, was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings she then hastened to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on her return, brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her Ladyship, importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her.
Edward could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting, that had he chosen it, he might by this time have been disposed to think of her as his aunt; nor could he think, without a smile, of what her ladyship's indignation would have been at her nephew showing him such favour. 'What would she have said?—how would she have behaved?' were questions with which he amused himself.
Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party—'I assure you, I feel it exceedingly,' said Lady Catherine; 'I believe nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly attached to these young men, and know them to be so much attached to me!—They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The dear colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely, more I think than last year. His attachment to Rosings, certainly increases.'
Mrs. Lucas had a compliment, and an allusion to throw in here, which were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter.
Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that both Mr. Bennet and Miss Lucas seemed out of spirits, and immediately accounting for it by herself, by supposing that they did not like to go home again so soon, she added,
'But if that is the case, you must write to your mother, Miss Lucas, and beg that you may stay a little longer; and you, Mr. Bennet, may be spared. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas will be very glad of your company, I am sure.'
'I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation,' replied Edward, 'but it is not in my power to accept it.—I must be in town next Saturday.'
'Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Lucas so before you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Your parents could certainly spare you both for another fortnight.'
'My father wrote last week to hurry my return.'
'Oh! your father of course may spare you.—And if you will stay another month complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as Dawson does not object to the Barouche box, there will be very good room for one of you—and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I should not object to taking you both.'
'You are all kindness, Madam; but I believe I must abide by my original plan.'
'Miss Lucas can certainly be spared; though she must then return alone, if she will not accompany me to London. Mr. Lucas, you must send a servant with your sister. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of a young woman travelling post by herself. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world to that sort of thing.—Young women should always be properly guarded and attended, according to their situation in life. When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her having two men servants go with her.—Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner.—I am excessively attentive to all those things. You must send John with your sister, Mr. Lucas. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it; for it would really be discreditable to you to let her go alone.'
'Your Ladyship is indeed very attentive,' said Edward; 'but my uncle is to send a servant for us. Miss Lucas and I are to return to Longbourn together.'
'Oh!—Your uncle!—He keeps a man-servant, does he?—I am very glad you have somebody who thinks of those things.' She paused; and seemed at last resigned. 'Where shall you change horses?—Oh! Bromley, of course.—If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be attended to.'
Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey, and as she did not answer them all herself, attention was necessary, which Edward believed to be lucky for him; Maria, lamenting the loss of Colonel Fitzwilliam, was once again intimidated into silence before her Ladyship; and with his own mind so occupied, he might have forgotten where he was. Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours; whenever he was alone, he gave way to it as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which he might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.
Mr. Darcy's letter, he was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. He studied every sentence: and his feelings towards its writer were at times widely different. When he remembered the style of his address, he was still full of indignation; but when he considered how unjustly he had condemned and upbraided him, his anger was turned against himself; and the gentleman's disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. His attachment excited gratitude, his general character respect; but Edward could not approve him; nor could he for a moment repent his rejection, or feel the slightest inclination ever to see him again. In his own past behaviour, there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy defects of his family a subject of yet heavier chagrin. They were hopeless of remedy. His father, contented with laughing at them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters; and his mother, with manners so far from right herself, was entirely insensible of the evil. Edward had frequently united with Jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence, what chance could there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Lydia's guidance, had been always affronted by their advice; and Lydia, self-willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there for ever.
Anxiety on Jane's behalf, was another prevailing concern, and Mr. Darcy's explanation, by restoring Bingley to all Edward's former good opinion, heightened the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved to have been sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could attach to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How grievous then was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every respect, so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness, Jane had been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family!
When to these recollections was added the development of Wickham's character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had seldom been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it almost impossible for him to appear tolerably cheerful.
Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week of his stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent there; and her Ladyship again inquired minutely into the particulars of their journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing, and was so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right way, that Maria thought herself obliged, on her return, to undo all the work of the morning, and pack her trunk afresh.
When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension, wished them a good journey, and invited them to come to Hunsford again next year; and Miss de Bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out her hand to both.
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