Mr.Collins had a compliment,and an allusion to throw in here, which were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter.
Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as her future niece;nor could she think,without a smile, of what her ladyship's indignation would have been.“What would she have said?how would she have behaved?”were questions with which she amused herself.
“Oh!your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay another month complete,it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London,for I am going there early in June,for a week;and as Dawson does not object to the barouche-box,there will be very good room for one of you―and indeed,if the weather should happen to be cool,I should not object to taking you both,as you are neither of you large.”
The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning, and Mr. Collins having been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected,after the melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings.To Rosings he then hastened, to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her.