Old Friends and New Fancies Read Online Free

more
interesting than Miss Steele's observation on the Bath assemblies and her openly-expressed predilection in favour of officers
as partners. Elizabeth and her husband were no better off in their
respective companions. The inanities of Robert Ferrars, and the
pretensions of his wife, were calculated to put a severe strain on the good intentions of Lady Catherine's niece and nephew
towards her guests.
"How elegantly Lady Catherine's dinner-parties are always
carried out!" remarked Lucy to Mr. Darcy, in a kind of loud aside,
as they unfolded their napkins. "She seems to be one of those
fortunate persons who always manage to have everything about
them as recherche as it is at home, wherever they may be staying.
Don't you think so, Mr. Darcy? No one else could have made this
apartment what it is, but with Lady Catherine's delightful
appointments you could, I daresay, easily imagine yourself to be
in one of the smaller dining parlours at Rosings, could you not?" Mr. Darcy was rather taken aback by this speech, and hastily
making a mental review of his aunt's usual visitors, failed
entirely to connect Mrs. Robert Ferrars with the dining parlour,
or any other room at Rosings; so his reply was not very satisfactory to his questioner.
"It seems a pleasant and convenient room. My aunt, I believe,
generally takes these lodgings; and when she settles down in a
place for a few weeks, naturally likes to make it comfortable." "Oh, but I think it is a special gift of dear Lady Catherine's,"
exclaimed Lucy. "You cannot deny it, Mr. Darcy, knowing
Rosings as you do. Now at our lodgings--well, I daresay the
rooms are very little smaller than this--but try as I will, I cannot
give them a home-like air, though I assure you I brought two
large packing-cases of dainty trifles from our country house." "Indeed!" said Darcy.
"Yes, but the lavish refinement, combined with substantial
comfort, of Lady Catherine's surroundings always appeals to me
so strongly when I come here. I am sure you understand what I mean, Mr. Darcy, with a home like Pemberley as a standard to
judge other people's houses by."
"I had not regarded Bath lodgings from that point of view,"
said Mr. Darcy. "Are you making a long stay here, may I ask?" "Yes, we hope to remain for some weeks. I always enjoy Bath
so much at this time of year; and so does Mr. Ferrars. I consider
it infinitely preferable to the autumn season, do not you, Mr.
Darcy? All the best people seem to come now, and one is not
likely to meet anyone whose acquaintance one would not wish
to continue afterwards."
Mr. Darcy took advantage of this pause, during which his
companion helped herself to fish, to consider what reply he should
truthfully make to such a sentiment; but before Mrs. Ferrars could
insist upon his agreeing with her, he was called upon by his aunt
from the end of the table to support her in a flat contradiction of
General Tilney, who was undoubtedly getting the best of a somewhat heated argument. Elizabeth was not more fortunate in her
companion. The wearisome descriptions of this or that friend's
house, habits, achievements, which were all that Robert Ferrars
could contribute to the conversation, were almost more than
could be endured with patience throughout a long dinner, even by
one who could derive quiet amusement from almost any kind of
harmless absurdity; and it was with a sigh of relief that Elizabeth
heard her aunt's peremptory command that everyone should go
and put on their coats and cloaks, for she would not have her party
arrive late for the beginning of the concert.
The ladies were distributed among various coaches, while
the gentlemen walked on. Elizabeth found that her companions
were to be her cousin and Miss Anne Steele; and during the drive she had leisure to remark, with great astonishment, the evident intimacy which existed between the young women. Anne tried to draw her into their discussions; but finding Mrs. Darcy resolutely silent, she turned to Miss de Bourgh, and began to