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Chapter XXXI

Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much

admired at the Parsonage, and the ladies all felt that

he must add considerably to the pleasure of their en-

gagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before

they received any invitation thither, for while there were

visitors in the house they could not be necessary; and it was

not till Easter-day, almost a week after the gentlemen's

arrival, that they were honoured by such an attention, and

then they were merely asked on leaving church to come

there in the evening. For the last week they had seen

very little of either Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colo-

nel Fitzwilliam had called at the Parsonage more than

once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had only seen

at church.

The invitation was accepted, of course, and at a proper

hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room.

Her Ladyship received them civilly, but it was plain that their

company was by no means so acceptable as when she could

get nobody else; and she was, in fact, almost engrossed by

her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, much

more than to any other person in the room.

Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them: any-

thing was a welcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs.

Collins's pretty friend had, moreover, caught his fancy very

much. He now seated himself by her, and talked so agree-

ably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying at

home, of new books and music, that Elizabeth had never

been half so well entertained in that room before; and they

conversed with so much spirit and flow as to draw the atten-

tion of Lady Catherine herself, as well as of Mr. Darcy.

_His_ eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards them

with a look of curiosity; and that her Ladyship, after a while,

shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she

did not scruple to call out,--

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