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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.

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 the questions with

which she amused herself.