“But if that is the case,you must write to your mother and beg that you may stay a little longer.Mrs.Collins will be very glad of your company,I am sure.”

“Why,at that rate,you will have been here only six weeks. I expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly spare you for another fortnight.”

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.

Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party.“I assure you,I feel it exceedingly,”said Lady Catherine;“I believe no one feels the loss of friends so much as I do.But I am particularly attached to these young men, and know them to be so much attached to me!They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are.The dear Colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last;but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely,more,I think,than last year.His attachment to Rosings certainly increases.”