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.

I can understand Mr. Collins taking time out while his FIL was there to show him the sights, but even after Sir William's departure he doesn't seem to do much pastoral work, like visiting parishoners, attending to other church business, etc. I imagine that the reading and writing are to prepare his sermon for Sunday, but in general he doesn't seem to devote an awful lot of time to his job - he has enough time to hang around outside the gates of Rosings all one morning to make sure when a certain carriage arrives! ;-) Maybe this is an unfair comparison, but all the modern-day ministers I've known seem to be constantly on the go for their jobs. Does anyone have any idea how much of his day or week a Regency-era clergyman would devote to his work?