{{prhprp316.jpg}}

Chapter XXX

Sir William stayed only a week at Hunsford; but his

visit was long enough to convince him of his daugh-

ter's being most comfortably settled, and of her possess-

ing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not often

met with. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins de-

voted his mornings to driving him out in his gig, and show-

ing him the country: but when he went away, the whole

family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth

was thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin

by the alteration; for the chief of the time between breakfast

and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the

garden, or in reading and writing, and looking out of win-

dow in his own book room, which fronted the road. The

room in which the ladies sat was backwards. Elizabeth at

first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer

the dining parlour for common use; it was a better sized

room, and had a pleasanter aspect: but she soon saw that her

friend had an excellent reason for what she did, for Mr. Col-

lins would undoubtedly have been much less in his own

apartment had they sat in one equally lively; and she gave

Charlotte credit for the arrangement.

From the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in

the lane, and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge

of what carriages went along, and how often especially Miss

de Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed

coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every

day. She not infrequently stopped at the parsonage, and

had a few minutes conversation with Charlotte, but was

scarcely ever prevailed on to get out.

Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to

Rosings, and not many in which his wife did not think it

necessary to go likewise; and till Elizabeth recollected that

there might be other family livings to be disposed of, she

could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now

 [316]