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Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not

prefer the dining parlour for common use; it was a better sized

room, and had a pleasanter aspect: but she soon saw that her

friend had an excellent reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins

would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment had

they sat in one equally lively; and she gave Charlotte credit for

the arrangement.

From the drawing-room they could distinguish nothing in the lane,

and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what

carriages went along, and how often especially Miss De Bourgh

drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed coming to inform

them of, though it happened almost every day. She not

unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes'

conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed on

to get out.