“Oh!your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay another month complete,it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London,for I am going there early in June,for a week;and as Dawson does not object to the barouche-box,there will be very good room for one of you―and indeed,if the weather should happen to be cool,I should not object to taking you both,as you are neither of you large.”
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.
Lady Catherine seemed resigned.“Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant with them.You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of two young women travelling post by themselves.It is highly improper.You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world to that sort of thing.Young women should always be properly guarded and attended, according to their situation in life.When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer,I made a point of her having two men-servants go with her.Miss Darcy,the daughter of Mr.Darcy,of Pemberley,and Lady Anne,could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner.I am excessively attentive to all those things.You must send John with the young ladies,Mrs. Collins.I am glad it occurred to me to mention it;for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go alone.”