Sir William staid only a week at Hunsford; but his visit was long enough to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not often met with. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to driving him out in his gig and shewing him the country; but when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin by the alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden, or in reading and writing, and looking out of window in his own book room, which fronted the road. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer the dining parlour for common use; it was a better sized room, and had a pleasanter aspect; but she soon saw that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and she gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement.
From the drawing room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often especially Miss De Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed on to get out.
Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise; and till Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings to be disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now and then, they were honoured with a call from her ladyship, and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture, or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family.
Elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was not in the commission of the peace for the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty.
The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few; as the style of living of the neighbourhood in general was beyond the Collinses' reach. This, however, was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time comfortably enough; there were half hours of pleasant conversation with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year, that she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and where she frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.
In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. Elizabeth had heard, soon after her arrival, that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of her acquaintance whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Catherine; who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself.
His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage, for Mr. Collins was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it; and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his uncle, Lord ----; and to the great surprise of all the party, when Mr. Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte had seen them, from her husband's room, crossing the road, and immediately running into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect, adding,
"I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me."
Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire, paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Collins; and whatever might be his feelings towards her friend, met her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely curtseyed to him, without saying a word.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to any body. At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Elizabeth after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual way, and after a moment's pause, added,
"My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there?"
She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane; and she thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.
--正文
威廉姆爵士在夯斯屯只待了一星期；但是他已经能确认女儿已经安顿好了，并确信这么好的丈夫和邻居可不是那么容易遇到的。威廉姆爵士和他们在一起的时候，柯林斯早上都会驾着马车带老丈人出去逛逛。但是老丈人走了后，一家人就回到之前过日子的路子了。伊丽莎白很高兴他们没看到这种转变，否则柯林斯就暴露本性了。因为威廉姆爵士走了后，早餐和晚餐间的大部分时间，柯林斯要么在花园里忙，要么就是在读书写作，或者在自己的书房眺望，这书房正好在路边上。姑娘们待的房间在后面。伊丽莎白一开始觉得夏洛特不应该把餐厅随便用，餐厅面积更大，而且视野很不错。但是她很快明白了夏洛特有完美的理由这么做。假如餐厅像柯林斯的书房一样舒适的话，那柯林斯就不会一直待在他的书房里了。（翻译官：惨......）；伊丽莎白觉得夏洛特安排得很好。
从客厅里他们看不到小路上的任何东西，还多亏了柯林斯告诉他们什么样的马车路过了，德.包尔小姐的马车多久来一趟，而柯林斯没有错过一次告知他们的机会，尽管德.包尔小姐基本上每天都要路过一趟。她时常会在柯林斯门口停下来，跟夏洛特聊几句，但是基本上没有出过马车。
柯林斯隔几天就要走去罗星一趟，他老婆也是这么想的。直到想起周围可能有其他人家也要拜访前，她没法理解为啥要花那么多时间去拜访罗星。时不时地，卡瑟林夫人也会亲自拜访，她总是能看出房子里最近发生了什么变化。她会检查房子的布置，看看他们的家务活，并建议他们换个方式做；她总是会发现家具放得不对了，女佣的活又做得不认真了。如果她愿意吃点甜点的话，那也只是为了发现柯林斯太太切的肉丁太大了，这个家庭可能负担不起。
伊丽莎白很快就明白了：尽管这位贵夫人并不是治安委员会的人，但是她确实是教区里最活跃的执法官，一点芝麻蒜皮的事情都会由柯林斯汇报给她。任何时候周围的人家发生争吵了，不满足了，或者太穷了，她就会突然来到村子里解决这些分歧，不让这些人抱怨，通过斥责让他们变得和谐。
柯林斯一家大约每周去两次罗星。因为威廉姆爵士离开的缘故，晚上的牌桌只有一张了，跟第一次一样，每次聚会他们都会打牌。柯林斯夫妇基本很少跟其他人往来，因为按这地方其他人的生活方式，柯林斯夫妇还高攀不上。但这对于伊丽莎白来说没有什么，总得来说她待得挺舒服的。她总是能开心得跟夏洛特聊上半个小时，而天气也是一年中最好的时候，她总是很喜欢出去走走。当其他人忙着拜访卡瑟林夫人的时候，她最喜欢到庄园边上的一座小树林去走走。那儿有座林荫遮挡的小路，这条路没有人在意，只有她愿意走走，在这儿她觉得可以远离卡瑟林夫人的连环逼问了。
就这么静悄悄的，拜访的前两个星期过去了。复活节马上就要到了，复活节的前一周罗星庄园会来一个人，在这个小圈子里，说明这是个重要的人物。伊丽莎白来了不久之后就听说，达西先生可能会在这几周过来。尽管相比达西，她还是更愿意见别的朋友，但是达西一来确实会添个新面孔瞧瞧。而且，想到达西被卡瑟林夫人安排跟德.包尔小姐结婚，能瞧瞧宾利小姐的如意算盘是如何绝望地落空了，伊丽莎白还是很开心的。卡瑟林夫人说起达西要来是满嘴满意，谈起他更是高度赞赏，而她听说卢卡斯小姐和伊丽莎白之前就经常跟达西见面，更是差点生气了。
达西到来的消息很快就在柯林斯家传开了。因为柯林斯整个早上都在夯斯屯的门口走来走去，盯着那边好知道第一手的消息。等到马车进了庄园，他先鞠了一躬然后就急忙跑回家报告了这一消息。第二天一早，他就赶去罗星去拜见达西。结果有两个人要柯林斯拜见，因为达西带了个菲茨威廉姆上校过来，这是他叔叔的儿子。令所有人惊讶的是，柯林斯回来的时候，两位先生跟他一起过来了。夏洛特从丈夫的房间里看到他们穿过马路走过来，然后她就立刻跑到另外一个房间，告诉姑娘们有大好事了，她说：“
我得谢谢你啊，栗子，感谢你这份福气。要不是你，达西先生可不是那么早就来拜访我的。”
伊丽莎白还没来得及否认，只听门铃一响，过了一会，三个男人走到了房间里面。菲茨威廉姆上校带着大家过来，他看起来大约30岁，长得不帅，但是穿着和谈妥都是绅士十足。达西呢，就跟以前在赫特福德一样，冷冰冰的向柯林斯夫人问好。而不管他对于伊丽莎白是啥感觉，他很镇静地像她问好。伊丽莎白只是行了个屈膝礼，什么话也没说。
菲茨威廉姆爵士是个教养良好的男人，他轻松地打开了话匣，谈吐令人愉快。但是他的表兄弟在向柯林斯太太赞美了房子和花园之后，就坐在那儿一言不发了。但是，过了段时间，他的礼貌终于上线了，他开始询问伊丽莎白家里人身体怎么样。伊丽莎白回答了她，然后过了一会儿，又说：“
我的大姐这3个月都呆在城里。你最近有看到她嘛？”
她十分清楚达西肯定没见到。但是她想试一下，看看他会不会对宾利和简的事情表现出一点点愧疚。但是伊丽莎白觉得达西在回答的时候有些困惑，他说自己没这个好运气见到本内特小姐。这个话题也就没再聊了，两位先生没一会就离开了。
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