Elizabeth soon perceived, that though this great lady was not in commission of the peace of 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.
Elizabeth s’aperçut vite que, sans faire partie de la justice de paix du comté, cette grande dame jouait le rôle d’un véritable magistrat dans la paroisse, dont les moindres incidents lui étaient rapportés par Mr. Collins.