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Chapter XXXVIII

On Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for

breakfast a few minutes before the others appeared;

and he took the opportunity of paying the parting

civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary.

'I know not.,Miss Elizabeth,' said he, 'whether Mrs. Collins

has yet expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to

us; but I am very certain you will not leave the house without

receiving her thanks for it. The favour of your company

has been much felt, I assure you. We know how little there

is to tempt any one to our humble abode. Our plain manner

of living, our small rooms, and few domestics, and the little

we see of the world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a

young lady like yourself; but I hope you will believe us

grateful for the condescension, and that we have done every-

thing in our power to prevent your spending your time un-

pleasantly.'

Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of

happiness. She had spent six weeks with great enjoyment;

and the pleasure of being with Charlotte, and the kind at-

tentions she had received, must make _her_ feel the obliged.

Mr. Collins was gratified; and with a more smiling solemnity

replied,--

'It gives me the greatest pleasure to hear that you have

passed your time not disagreeably. We have certainly done

our best; and most fortunately having it in our power to

introduce you to very superior society, and from our connec-

tion with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the humble

home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Huns-

ford visit cannot have been entirely irksome. Our situation

with regard to Lady Catherine's family is, indeed, the sort of

extraordinary advantage and blessing which few can boast.

You see on what a footing we are. You see how continually

we are engaged there. In truth, I must acknowledge that,

with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should

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