A naturally more patient man than his cousin, Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam bore Lady Catherine’s obtrusiveness and his cousin Anne’s obmutescence with better philosophy, and hence better grace. Within a few days of his arrival at Rosings, Lady Catherine would abridge her instructions for his welfare to not more than three or four an hour, and Miss de Bourgh might proffer a few vapid remarks if Lady Catherine should happen to be momentarily absent. In the first instance, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s very existence without such constant instruction was nothing short of wonderful, given his occupation as a military man; and in the second, it required the cunning of Ulysses and the strength of Atlas to produce the shortest of speeches from Anne, and these transitory rewards were delivered with neither information nor sensibility. The officiousness of his aunt had become too common-place to be wondered at, but Miss de Bourgh’s inalterable habit of lapsing into a steadfast silence the moment Lady Catherine reappeared—regardless of the state of any proceeding conversation—never ceased to surprise the Colonel, who considered such behaviour as singular well past the point of incivility. More than once did Colonel Fitzwilliam compare his two cousins, concluding that one lady was silent from her great desire to please, whilst the other from her equally strong desire not to please.

One evening soon after his arrival, upon their finding themselves sitting alone after supper, Lady Catherine addressed him thus:

“Well, George, ‘tis a dreadful business about Darcy, but as they are married, I suppose there is nothing to be done about it now. I have long been resigned to the disgrace attending this deplorable alliance but, as you know, my sympathy is never directed toward my own complaints. However, Anne yet suffers the disappointment attending Darcy’s selfish violation of all claims of honour and duty due his family, an affliction I do not intend to brook any longer. As my first duty is to my daughter, I must no longer suspend decision as to the best alternate course for her happiness. These five years are now passed without any change in Anne’s inclination to marriage, and it occurs to me, as the most sensible—indeed, as the only acceptable alternative—that I should give my consent to your marriage with my daughter. To be sure, you have no fortune and, therefore, no prospect of marriage with anyone of her rank and situation in life. Her beauty and person are superior, her accomplishments unsurpassed, and as my daughter, she would be a match far above any you could hope to make without the benefit of the interest which, as a younger son, you are unlikely to receive.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam was taken entirely by surprise and could only stare with unaffected astonishment as she continued,