Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation

with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth’s high diversion, was

stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness

before him, and constantly bowing whenever Miss De Bourgh looked that

way.
At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies drove on, and

the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins no sooner saw the two

girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which

Charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked

to dine at Rosings the next day.{200}

[Image unavailable.]


“Lady Catherine, said she, you have given me a treasure.”


CHAPTER XXIX.

MR. COLLINS’S triumph, in consequence of this invitation, was complete.

The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering

visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his

wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of

doing it should be given so soon was such an instance of Lady

Catherine’s condescension as he knew not how to admire enough.
“I confess,” said he, “that I should not have been at all surprised by

her Ladyship’s asking us on Sunday to{201} drink tea and spend the evening

at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that

it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this?

Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine

there (an invitation, moreover, including the whole party) so

immediately after your arrival?”
“I am the less surprised at what has happened,” replied Sir William,

“from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which

my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the court, such

instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon.”
Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or next morning but their