Chapter 38

           OnSaturdaymorningElizabethandMr.Collinsmetforbreakfastafewminutesbeforetheothersappeared;andhetooktheopportunityofpayingthepartingcivilitieswhichhedeemedindispensablynecessary. 

           "Iknownot,MissElizabeth,"saidhe,"whetherMrs.Collinshasyetexpressedhersenseofyourkindnessincomingtous; butIamverycertainyouwillnotleavethehousewithoutreceivingherthanksforit. Thefavorofyourcompanyhasbeenmuchfelt,Iassureyou. Weknowhowlittlethereistotemptanyonetoourhumbleabode. Ourplainmannerofliving,oursmallroomsandfewdomestics,andthelittleweseeoftheworld,mustmakeHunsfordextremelydulltoayoungladylikeyourself; butIhopeyouwillbelieveusgratefulforthecondescension,andthatwehavedoneeverythinginourpowertopreventyourspendingyourtimeunpleasantly." 

           Elizabethwaseagerwithherthanksandassurancesofhappiness. Shehadspentsixweekswithgreatenjoyment; andthepleasureofbeingwithCharlotte,andthekindattentionsshehadreceived,mustmakeherfeeltheobliged. Mr.Collinswasgratified,andwithamoresmilingsolemnityreplied: 

           "Itgivesmegreatpleasuretohearthatyouhavepassedyourtimenotdisagreeably. Wehavecertainlydoneourbest; andmostfortunatelyhavingitinourpowertointroduceyoutoverysuperiorsociety,and,fromourconnectionwithRosings,thefrequentmeansofvaryingthehumblehomescene,IthinkwemayflatterourselvesthatyourHunsfordvisitcannothavebeenentirelyirksome. OursituationwithregardtoLadyCatherine’sfamilyisindeedthesortofextraordinaryadvantageandblessingwhichfewcanboast. Youseeonwhatafootingweare.Youseehowcontinuallyweareengagedthere. IntruthImustacknowledgethat,withallthedisadvantagesofthishumbleparsonage,Ishouldnotthinkanyoneabidinginitanobjectofcompassion,whiletheyaresharersofourintimacyatRosings."