Catherine de Bourgh’s attention to his wishes, and consideration for his

comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen

better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him

to more than usual solemnity of manner; and with a most important aspect

he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a

person of rank—such affability and condescension, as he had himself

experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to

approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of

preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings,

and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of

quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many

people, he knew, but he had never seen anything but affability in her.

She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she

made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the

neighbourhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionally{85} for a week or

two to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to

marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had

once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage, where she had perfectly

approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed

to suggest some herself,—some shelves in the closets upstairs.
“That is all very proper and civil, I am sure,” said Mrs. Bennet, “and I

dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies

in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?”
“The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane

from Rosings Park, her Ladyship’s residence.”
“I think you said she was a widow, sir? has she any family?”
“She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very

extensive property.”
“Ah,” cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, “then she is better off than