took her sister and friend over the house, extremely well pleased,

probably, to have the opportunity of showing it without her husband’s

help. It was rather small, but well built and convenient; and everything

was fitted up and arranged with a neatness and consistency, of which

Elizabeth gave Charlotte all the credit. When Mr. Collins could be

forgotten, there was really a great air of comfort{197} throughout, and by

Charlotte’s evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often

forgotten.
She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It

was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining

in, observed,—
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine

de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need not say you will

be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I

doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice when

service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will

include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she

honours us during your stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is

charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to

walk home. Her Ladyship’s carriage is regularly ordered for us. I

should say, one of her Ladyship’s carriages, for she has several.”
“Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman, indeed,” added

Charlotte, “and a most attentive neighbour.”
“Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of

woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference.”
The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire news, and

telling again what had been already written; and when it closed,

Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon

Charlotte’s degree of contentment, to understand her address in guiding,

and composure in bearing with, her husband, and to acknowledge that it