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that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he had pleasure in

their society, a persuasion which of course recommended him

still more; and Elizabeth was reminded by her own satis-

faction in being with him, as well as by his evident admiration

of her former favourite, George Wickham; and though, in

comparing them, she saw there was less captivating softness

in Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners, she believed he might have

the best informed mind.

But why Mr. Darcy came so often to the Parsonage it was

more difficult to understand. It could not be for society, as

he frequently sat there ten minutes together without opening

his lips; and when he did speak, it seemed the effect of

necessity rather than of choice -- a sacrifice to propriety, not a

pleasure to himself. He seldom appeared really animated.

Mrs. Collins knew not what to make of him. Colonel Fitz-

william's occasionally laughing at his stupidity proved that he

was generally different, which her own knowledge of him

could not have told her; and as she would have liked to

believe this change the effect of love, and the object of that

love her friend Eliza, she set herself seriously to work to find

it out; she watched him whenever they were at Rosings, and

whenever he came to Hunsford; but without much success.

He certainly looked at her friend a great deal, but the expres-

sion of that look was disputable. It was an earnest, stead-

fast gaze, but she often doubted whether there were much

admiration in it, and sometimes it seemed nothing but absence

of mind.

She had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility

of his being partial to her, but Elizabeth always laughed at

the idea; and Mrs. Collins did not think it right to press the

subject, from the danger of raising expectations which might

only end in disappointment; for in her opinion it admitted

not of a doubt, that all her friend's dislike would vanish, if

she could suppose him to be in her power.

In her kind schemes for Elizabeth, she sometimes planned

her marrying Colonel Fitzwilliam. He was, beyond com-

parison, the pleasantest man: he certainly admired her, and

his situation in life was most eligible; but, to counterbalance

these advantages, Mr. Darcy had considerable patronage in

the church, and his cousin could have none at all.

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