The next morning, Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam left Rosings. Mr. Collins went to see them off and returned with a message: Lady Catherine was feeling lonely and wanted them all to come for dinner.
As Elizabeth sat at Rosings that evening, she looked at Lady Catherine. She realized that if she had said "yes" to Mr. Darcy, she would one day be this woman’s niece. She smiled to herself, imagining how angry Lady Catherine would have been.
Lady Catherine noticed that Elizabeth was quiet. "You seem sad, Miss Bennet," she said. "Is it because you are going home so soon? You should stay another month. I can even take you to London in my carriage in June."
"You are very kind, madam," Elizabeth replied, "but my father wants me to return home."
Lady Catherine then spent the rest of the evening giving Elizabeth advice. She told her how to travel safely and exactly how to pack her suitcases. Elizabeth listened politely, but her mind was elsewhere.
During her last days in Kent, Elizabeth walked alone every day and read Darcy’s letter until she knew it by heart. Her opinion of him was changing. She still didn't like his pride, but she felt a growing respect for his character. She felt sorry that she had been so mean to him when he offered to marry her. She was grateful for his love, even though she still did not want to be his wife.
Mostly, she felt sad for Jane. Now that she knew the truth, she realized that Bingley had truly loved her sister. They would have been happy together if Darcy and her own family had not interfered.
She also felt hopeless about her younger sisters, Lydia and Catherine. They were idle, vain, and spent all their time flirting with soldiers. Her mother encouraged their bad behavior, and her father only laughed at them. Elizabeth knew that as long as they lived like this, the family’s reputation would never improve.
On their last night at the Parsonage, Maria and Elizabeth finished their packing. Lady Catherine invited them one last time and wished them a safe journey. Finally, Elizabeth was ready to go back to her family, though her heart was much heavier than when she had arrived.