Chapter 30

           SirWilliamstayedonlyaweekatHunsford,buthisvisitwaslongenoughtoconvincehimofhisdaughter’sbeingmostcomfortablysettled,andofherpossessingsuchahusbandandsuchaneighbouraswerenotoftenmetwith. WhileSirWilliamwaswiththem,Mr.Collinsdevotedhismorningtodrivinghimoutinhisgig,andshowinghimthecountry; butwhenhewentaway,thewholefamilyreturnedtotheirusualemployments,andElizabethwasthankfultofindthattheydidnotseemoreofhercousinbythealteration,forthechiefofthetimebetweenbreakfastanddinnerwasnowpassedbyhimeitheratworkinthegardenorinreadingandwriting,andlookingoutofthewindowinhisownbook-room,whichfrontedtheroad. Theroominwhichtheladiessatwasbackwards. ElizabethhadatfirstratherwonderedthatCharlotteshouldnotpreferthedining-parlourforcommonuse; itwasabettersizedroom,andhadamorepleasantaspect;butshesoonsawthatherfriendhadanexcellentreasonforwhatshedid,forMr.Collinswouldundoubtedlyhavebeenmuchlessinhisownapartment,hadtheysatinoneequallylively; andshegaveCharlottecreditforthearrangement. 

           Fromthedrawing-roomtheycoulddistinguishnothinginthelane,andwereindebtedtoMr.Collinsfortheknowledgeofwhatcarriageswentalong,andhowoftenespeciallyMissdeBourghdrovebyinherphaeton,whichheneverfailedcomingtoinformthemof,thoughithappenedalmosteveryday. ShenotunfrequentlystoppedattheParsonage,andhadafewminutes’conversationwithCharlotte,butwasscarcelyeverprevailedupontogetout. 

           VeryfewdayspassedinwhichMr.CollinsdidnotwalktoRosings,andnotmanyinwhichhiswifedidnotthinkitnecessarytogolikewise; andtillElizabethrecollectedthattheremightbeotherfamilylivingstobedisposedof,shecouldnotunderstandthesacrificeofsomanyhours.