The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth
into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she, for many hours, learn to
think of it less than incessantly. Lady Catherine, it appeared, had actually
taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings, for the sole purpose of
breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr. Darcy. It was a rational
scheme, to be sure! but from what the report of their engagement could
originate, Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; till she recollected that his be-
ing the intimate friend of Bingley, and her being the sister of Jane, was
enough, at a time when the expectation of one wedding made everybody
eager for another, to supply the idea. She had not herself forgotten to feel
that the marriage of her sister must bring them more frequently together.
And her neighbours at Lucas Lodge, therefore (for through their communi-
cation with the Collinses, the report, she concluded, had reached Lady
Catherine), had only set that down as almost certain and immediate, which
she had looked forward to as possible at some future time.
In revolving Lady Catherine's expressions, however, she could not help
feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting in
this interference. From what she had said of her resolution to prevent their
marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate an application to
her nephew; and how he might take a similar representation of the evils at-
tached to a connection with her, she dared not pronounce. She knew not the
exact degree of his affection for his aunt, or his dependence on her judg-
ment, but it was natural to suppose that he thought much higher of her lady-
ship than she could do; and it was certain that, in enumerating the miseries
of a marriage with one, whose immediate connections were so unequal to
his own, his aunt would address him on his weakest side. With his notions
of dignity, he would probably feel that the arguments, which to Elizabeth
had appeared weak and ridiculous, contained much good sense and solid
reasoning.
If he had been wavering before as to what he should do, which had often
seemed likely, the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might settle
every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity unblem-
ished could make him. In that case he would return no more. Lady Cather-
ine might see him in her way through town; and his engagement to Bingley
of coming again to Netherfield must give way.
"If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his
friend within a few days," she added, "I shall know how to understand it. I
shall then give over every expectation, every wish of his constancy. If he is
satisfied with only regretting me, when he might have obtained my affec-
tions and hand, I shall soon cease to regret him at all."
The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing who their visitor had
been, was very great; but they obligingly satisfied it, with the same kind of
supposition which had appeased Mrs. Bennet's curiosity; and Elizabeth was
spared from much teasing on the subject.
The next morning, as she was going downstairs, she was met by her fa-
ther, who came out of his library with a letter in his hand.
"Lizzy," said he, "I was going to look for you; come into my room."
She followed him thither; and her curiosity to know what he had to tell
her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner connect-
ed with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it might be from Lady
Catherine; and she anticipated with dismay all the consequent explanations.
She followed her father to the fire place, and they both sat down. He then
said,
"I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me exceedingly.
As it principally concerns yourself, you ought to know its contents. I did not
know before, that I had two daughters on the brink of matrimony. Let me
congratulate you on a very important conquest."
The colour now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous con-
viction of its being a letter from the nephew, instead of the aunt; and she
was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained himself at
all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to herself; when her
father continued:
"You look conscious. Young ladies have great penetration in such matters
as these; but I think I may defy even your sagacity, to discover the name of
your admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins."
"From Mr. Collins! and what can he have to say?"
"Something very much to the purpose of course. He begins with congrat-
ulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter, of which, it
seems, he has been told by some of the good-natured, gossiping Lucases. I
shall not sport with your impatience, by reading what he says on that point.
What relates to yourself, is as follows: 'Having thus offered you the sincere
congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on this happy event, let me now
add a short hint on the subject of another; of which we have been advertised
by the same authority. Your daughter Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long
bear the name of Bennet, after her elder sister has resigned it, and the cho-
sen partner of her fate may be reasonably looked up to as one of the most
illustrious personages in this land.'
"Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by this?" 'This young gen-
tleman is blessed, in a peculiar way, with every thing the heart of mortal can
most desire,—splendid property, noble kindred, and extensive patronage.
Yet in spite of all these temptations, let me warn my cousin Elizabeth, and
yourself, of what evils you may incur by a precipitate closure with this gen-
tleman's proposals, which, of course, you will be inclined to take immediate
advantage of.'
"Have you any idea, Lizzy, who this gentleman is? But now it comes out:
"'My motive for cautioning you is as follows. We have reason to imagine
that his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not look on the match with a
friendly eye.'
"Mr. Darcy, you see, is the man! Now, Lizzy, I think I have surprised
you. Could he, or the Lucases, have pitched on any man within the circle of
our acquaintance, whose name would have given the lie more effectually to
what they related? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any woman but to see a
blemish, and who probably never looked at you in his life! It is admirable!"
Elizabeth tried to join in her father's pleasantry, but could only force one
most reluctant smile. Never had his wit been directed in a manner so little
agreeable to her.
"Are you not diverted?"
"Oh! yes. Pray read on."
"'After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship last
night, she immediately, with her usual condescension, expressed what she
felt on the occasion; when it became apparent, that on the score of some
family objections on the part of my cousin, she would never give her con-
sent to what she termed so disgraceful a match. I thought it my duty to give
the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin, that she and her noble admir-
er may be aware of what they are about, and not run hastily into a marriage
which has not been properly sanctioned.' Mr. Collins moreover adds, 'I am
truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia's sad business has been so well hushed
up, and am only concerned that their living together before the marriage
took place should be so generally known. I must not, however, neglect the
duties of my station, or refrain from declaring my amazement at hearing
that you received the young couple into your house as soon as they were
married. It was an encouragement of vice; and had I been the rector of
Longbourn, I should very strenuously have opposed it. You ought certainly
to forgive them, as a Christian, but never to admit them in your sight, or al-
low their names to be mentioned in your hearing.' That is his notion of
Christian forgiveness! The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte's
situation, and his expectation of a young olive-branch. But, Lizzy, you look
as if you did not enjoy it. You are not going to be missish, I hope, and pre-
tend to be affronted at an idle report. For what do we live, but to make sport
for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?"
"Oh!" cried Elizabeth, "I am excessively diverted. But it is so strange!"
"Yes—that is what makes it amusing. Had they fixed on any other man it
would have been nothing; but his perfect indifference, and your pointed dis-
like, make it so delightfully absurd! Much as I abominate writing, I would
not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for any consideration. Nay, when I
read a letter of his, I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wick-
ham, much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my son-in-law. And
pray, Lizzy, what said Lady Catherine about this report? Did she call to
refuse her consent?"
To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it had been
asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by his repeating it.
Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what
they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried.
Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by what he said of Mr. Darcy's
indifference, and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want of pene-
tration, or fear that perhaps, instead of his seeing too little, she might have
fancied too much.
