Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 283 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 283

Pride and Prejudice

little light. A great deal more passed at the other table.

Lady Catherine was generally speakingstating the

mistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote

of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to

everything her ladyship said, thanking her for every

fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too

many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his

memory with anecdotes and noble names.

When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played

as long as they chose, the tables were broken up, the

carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted

and immediately ordered. The party then gathered

round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what

weather they were to have on the morrow. From these

instructions they were summoned by the arrival of

the coach; and with many speeches of thankfulness on

Mr. Collins’s side and as many bows on Sir William’s

they departed. As soon as they had driven from the

door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give

her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which,

for Charlotte’s sake, she made more favourable than it

really was. But her commendation, though costing her

some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins,

and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship’s

praise into his own hands.

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