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Chapter　XV　of　Volume　II　（Chap。　38）
　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　unpleasantly。''
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　attentions　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　connection　with　Rosings；　the　frequent　means　of　varying　the　humble　home　scene；　I　think　we　may　flatter　ourselves　that　your　Hunsford　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　not　think　any　one　abiding　in　it　an　object　of　compassion　while　they　are　sharers　of　our　intimacy　at　Rosings。''
Words　were　insufficient　for　the　elevation　of　his　feelings；　and　he　was　obliged　to　walk　about　the　room；　while　Elizabeth　tried　to　unite　civility　and　truth　in　a　few　short　sentences。
‘‘You　may；　in　fact；　carry　a　very　favourable　report　of　us　into　Hertfordshire；　my　dear　cousin。　I　flatter　myself；　at　least；　that　you　will　be　able　to　do　so。　Lady　Catherine's　great　attentions　to　Mrs。　Collins　you　have　been　a　daily　witness　of；　and　altogether　I　trust　it　does　not　appear　that　your　friend　has　drawn　an　unfortunate　；　but　on　this　point　it　will　be　as　well　to　be　silent。　Only　let　me　assure　you；　my　dear　Miss　Elizabeth；　that　I　can　from　my　heart　most　cordially　wish　you　equal　felicity　in　marriage。　My　dear　Charlotte　and　I　have　but　one　mind　and　one　way　of　thinking。　There　is　in　every　thing　a　most　remarkable　resemblance　of　character　and　ideas　between　us。　We　seem　to　have　been　designed　for　each　other。''
Elizabeth　could　safely　say　that　it　was　a　great　happiness　where　that　was　the　case；　and　with　equal　sincerity　could　add　that　she　firmly　believed　and　rejoiced　in　his　domestic　comforts。　She　was　not　sorry；　however；　to　have　the　recital　of　them　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　the　lady　from　whom　they　sprung。　Poor　Charlotte！　　it　was　melancholy　to　leave　her　to　such　society！　　But　she　had　chosen　it　with　her　eyes　open；　and　though　evidently　regretting　that　her　visitors　were　to　go；　she　did　not　seem　to　ask　for　compassion。　Her　home　and　her　housekeeping；　her　parish　and　her　poultry；　and　all　their　dependent　concerns；　had　not　yet　lost　their　charms。
At　length　the　chaise　arrived；　the　trunks　were　fastened　on；　the　parcels　placed　within；　and　it　was　pronounced　to　be　ready。　After　an　affectionate　parting　between　the　friends；　Elizabeth　was　attended　to　the　carriage　by　Mr。　Collins；　and　as　they　walked　down　the　garden；　he　was　commissioning　her　with　his　best　respects　to　all　her　family；　not　forgetting　his　thanks　for　the　kindness　he　had　received　at　Longbourn　in　the　winter；　and　his　compliments　to　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Gardiner；　though　unknown。　He　then　handed　her　in；　Maria　followed；　and　the　door　was　on　the　point　of　being　closed；　when　he　suddenly　reminded　them；　with　some　consternation；　that　they　had　hitherto　forgotten　to　leave　any　message　for　the　ladies　at　Rosings。
‘‘But；''　he　added；　‘‘you　will　of　course　wish　to　have　your　humble　respects　delivered　to　them；　with　your　grateful　thanks　for　their　kindness　to　you　while　you　have　been　here。''
Elizabeth　made　no　objection；　　the　door　was　then　allowed　to　be　shut；　and　the　carriage　drove　off。
‘‘Good　gracious！''　cried　Maria；　after　a　few　minutes　silence；　‘‘it　seems　but　a　day　or　two　since　we　first　came！　　and　yet　how　many　things　have　happened！''
‘‘A　great　many　indeed；''　said　her　companion　with　a　sigh。
‘‘We　have　dined　nine　times　at　Rosings；　besides　drinking　tea　there　twice！　　How　much　I　shall　have　to　tell！''
Elizabeth　privately　added；　‘‘And　how　much　I　shall　have　to　conceal。''
Their　journey　was　performed　without　much　conversation；　or　any　alarm；　and　within　four　hours　of　their　leaving　Hunsford；　they　reached　Mr。　Gardiner's　house；　where　they　were　to　remain　a　few　days。
Jane　looked　well；　and　Elizabeth　had　little　opportunity　of　studying　her　spirits；　amidst　the　various　engagements　which　the　kindness　of　her　aunt　had　reserved　for　them。　But　Jane　was　to　go　home　with　her；　and　at　Longbourn　there　would　be　leisure　enough　for　observation。
It　was　not　without　an　effort；　meanwhile；　that　she　could　wait　even　for　Longbourn；　before　she　told　her　sister　of　Mr。　Darcy's　proposals。　To　know　that　she　had　the　power　of　revealing　what　would　so　exceedingly　astonish　Jane；　and　must；　at　the　same　time；　so　highly　gratify　whatever　of　her　own　vanity　she　had　not　yet　been　able　to　reason　away；　was　such　a　temptation　to　openness　as　nothing　could　have　conquered　but　the　state　of　indecision　in　which　she　remained　as　to　the　extent　of　what　she　should　communicate；　and　her　fear；　if　she　once　entered　on　the　subject；　of　being　hurried　into　repeating　something　of　Bingley　which　might　only　grieve　her　sister　farther。星期六吃过早饭时，伊丽莎白和柯林斯先生在饭厅里相遇，原来他们比别人早来了几分　钟。柯林斯先生连忙利用这个机会向她郑重话别，他认为这是决不可少的礼貌。
他说：“伊丽莎白小姐，这次蒙你光临敝舍，我不知道内人有没有向你表示感激；不过　我相信她不会不向你表示一番谢意就让你走的。老实告诉你，你这次来，我们非常领情。我　们自知舍下寒伧，无人乐意光临。我们生活清苦，居处局促，侍仆寥寥无几，再加我们见识　浅薄，象你这样一位年轻小姐，一定会觉得汉斯福这地方极其枯燥乏味，不过我们对于你这　次赏脸，实在感激万分，并且竭尽绵薄，使你不至于过得兴味索然，希望你能鉴谅。”
伊丽莎白连声道谢，说是这次作客，非常快活，这六个星期来真是过得高兴极了，跟夏　绿蒂待在一起真有乐趣，加上主人家对待她又那么殷勤恳切，实在叫她感激。柯林斯先生一　听此话，大为满意，立刻显出一副笑容可掬的样子，慎重其事地回答道：
“听到你并没有过得不称心，我真得意到极点。我们总算尽了心意，而且感到最幸运的　是，能够介绍你跟上流人来往。寒舍虽然毫不足道，但幸亏高攀了罗新斯府上，使你住在我　们这种苦地方，还可以经常跟他们来往来往，可以免得单调，这一点倒使我可以聊以自慰，　觉得你这次到汉斯福来不能算完全失望。咖苔琳夫人府上对我们真是特别优待，特别爱护，　这种机会是别人求之不得的。你也可以看出我们是处于何等的地位。你看我们简直无时无刻　不在他们那边作客。老实说，我这所牧师住宅虽然异常简陋，诸多不便，可是，谁要是住到　里�

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