Chapter 37

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

           ElizabethcouldnotseeLadyCatherinewithoutrecollectingthat,hadshechosenit,shemightbythistimehavebeenpresentedtoherasherfutureniece; norcouldshethink,withoutasmile,ofwhatherladyship’sindignationwouldhavebeen. "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: