To Elizabeth it appeared that, had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening,it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or finer success;and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice, and that his feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he must have witnessed.That his two sisters and Mr.Darcy,however,should have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations, was bad enough, and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the gentleman,or the insolent smiles of the ladies,were more intolerable.
The rest of the evening brought her little amusement.She was teased by Mr.Collins,who continued most perseveringly by her side,and though he could not prevail on her to dance with him again,put it out of her power to dance with others.In vain did she entreat him to stand up with somebody else, and offer to introduce him to any young lady in the room. He assured her, that as to dancing, he was perfectly indifferent to it; that his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to her and that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her the whole evening.There was no arguing upon such a project.She owed her greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas, who often joined them,and good-naturedly engaged Mr.Collins's conversation to herself.
She was at least free from the offense of Mr. Darcy's further notice;though often standing within a very short distance of her, quite disengaged,he never came near enough to speak.She felt it to be the probable consequence of her allusions to Mr.Wickham, and rejoiced in it.
The Longbourn party were the last of all the company to depart, and, by a manoeuvre of Mrs. Bennet, had to wait for their carriage a quarter of an hour after everybody else was gone, which gave them time to see how heartily they were wished away by some of the family.Mrs.Hurst and her sister scarcely opened their mouths,except to complain of fatigue,and were evidently impatient to have the house to themselves.They repulsed every attempt of Mrs.Bennet at conversation,and by so doing threw a languor over the whole party,which was very little relieved by the long speeches of Mr. Collins, who was complimenting Mr. Bingley and his sisters on the elegance of their entertainment, and the hospitality and politeness which had marked their behaviour to their guests.Darcy said nothing at all.Mr.Bennet, in equal silence, was enjoying the scene. Mr. Bingley and Jane were standing together,a little detached from the rest,and talked only to each other. Elizabeth preserved as steady a silence as either Mrs.Hurst or Miss Bingley;and even Lydia was too much fatigued to utter more than the occasional exclamation of“Lord, how tired I am!”accompanied by a violent yawn.
When at length they arose to take leave,Mrs.Bennet was most pressingly civil in her hope of seeing the whole family soon at Longbourn, and addressed herself especially to Mr. Bingley, to assure him how happy he would make them by eating a family dinner with them at any time,without the ceremony of a formal invitation. Bingley was all grateful pleasure, and he readily engaged for taking the earliest opportunity of waiting on her, after his return from London,whither he was obliged to go the next day for a short time.
Mrs. Bennet was perfectly satisfied, and quitted the house under the delightful persuasion that, allowing for the necessary preparations of settlements,new carriages,and wedding clothes, she should undoubtedly see her daughter settled at Netherfield in the course of three or four months.Of having another daughter married to Mr.Collins,she thought with equal certainty,and with considerable,though not equal,pleasure.Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children;and though the man and the match were quite good enough for her,the worth of each was eclipsed by Mr.Bingley and Netherfield.
