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第79章（第1页）

ThetwogentlemenleftRosingsthenextmorning，andMr。Collinshavingbeeninwaitingnearthelodges，tomakethemhispartingobeisance，wasabletobringhomethepleasingintelligence，oftheirappearinginverygoodhealth，andinastolerablespiritsascouldbeexpected，afterthemelancholyscenesolatelygonethroughatRosings。ToRosingshethenhastened，toconsoleLadyCatherineandherdaughter;andonhisreturnbroughtback，withgreatsatisfaction，amessagefromherladyship，importingthatshefeltherselfsodullastomakeherverydesirousofhavingthemalltodinewithher。

ElizabethcouldnotseeLadyCatherinewithoutrecollectingthat，hadshechosenit，shemightbythistimehavebeenpresentedtoherasherfutureniece;norcouldshethink，withoutasmile，ofwhatherladyshipsindignationwouldhavebeen。“Whatwouldshehavesaid?howwouldshehavebehaved?”werequestionswithwhichsheamusedherself。

TheirfirstsubjectwasthediminutionoftheRosingsparty。“Iassureyou，Ifeelitexceedingly，”saidLadyCatherine;“IbelievenoonefeelsthelossoffriendssomuchasIdo。ButIamparticularlyattachedtotheseyoungmen，andknowthemtobesomuchattachedtome!Theywereexcessivelysorrytogo!Butsotheyalwaysare。ThedearColonelralliedhisspiritstolerablytilljustatlast;butDarcyseemedtofeelitmostacutely，more，Ithink，thanlastyear。HisattachmenttoRosingscertainlyincreases。”

Mr。Collinshadacompliment，andanallusiontothrowinhere，whichwerekindlysmiledonbythemotheranddaughter。

LadyCatherineobserved，afterdinner，thatMissBennetseemedoutofspirits，andimmediatelyaccountingforitbyherself，bysupposingthatshedidnotliketogohomeagainsosoon，sheadded:

“Butifthatisthecase，youmustwritetoyourmotherandbegthatyoumaystayalittlelonger。Mrs。Collinswillbeverygladofyourcompany，Iamsure。”

“Iammuchobligedtoyourladyshipforyourkindinvitation，”repliedElizabeth，“butitisnotinmypowertoacceptit。ImustbeintownnextSaturday。”

“Why，atthatrate，youwillhavebeenhereonlysixweeks。Iexpectedyoutostaytwomonths。ItoldMrs。Collinssobeforeyoucame。Therecanbenooccasionforyourgoingsosoon。Mrs。Bennetcouldcertainlyspareyouforanotherfortnight。”

“Butmyfathercannot。Hewrotelastweektohurrymyreturn。”

“Oh!yourfatherofcoursemayspareyou，ifyourmothercan。Daughtersareneverofsomuchconsequencetoafather。Andifyouwillstayanothermonthcomplete，itwillbeinmypowertotakeoneofyouasfarasLondon，forIamgoingthereearlyinJune，foraweek;andasDawsondoesnotobjecttothebarouche-box，therewillbeverygoodroomforoneofyou—andindeed，iftheweathershouldhappentobecool，Ishouldnotobjecttotakingyouboth，asyouareneitherofyoularge。”

“Youareallkindness，madam;butIbelievewemustabidebyouroriginalplan。”

LadyCatherineseemedresigned。“Mrs。Collins，youmustsendaservantwiththem。YouknowIalwaysspeakmymind，andIcannotbeartheideaoftwoyoungwomentravellingpostbythemselves。Itishighlyimproper。Youmustcontrivetosendsomebody。Ihavethegreatestdislikeintheworldtothatsortofthing。Youngwomenshouldalwaysbeproperlyguardedandattended，accordingtotheirsituationinlife。WhenmynieceGeorgianawenttoRamsgatelastsummer，Imadeapointofherhavingtwomen-servantsgowithher。MissDarcy，thedaughterofMr。Darcy，ofPemberley，andLadyAnne，couldnothaveappearedwithproprietyinadifferentmanner。Iamexcessivelyattentivetoallthosethings。YoumustsendJohnwiththeyoungladies，Mrs。Collins。Iamgladitoccurredtometomentionit;foritwouldreallybediscreditabletoyoutoletthemgoalone。”

“Myuncleistosendaservantforus。”