Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 285 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 285

Pride and Prejudice

room, and had a more pleasant aspect; but she soon saw

that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did,

for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less

in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively;

and she gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement.

From the drawing-room they could distinguish

nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Mr. Collins

for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and

how often especially Miss de Bourgh drove by in her

phaeton, which he never failed coming to inform them

of, though it happened almost every day. She not

unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few

minutes’ conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely

ever prevailed upon to get out.

Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not

walk to Rosings, and not many in which his wife did

not think it necessary to go likewise; and till Elizabeth

recollected that there might be other family livings to

be disposed of, she 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

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