PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 57

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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 being the intimate friend of Bingley, and her being the sister of
Jane, was enough, at a time when the expectation of one wedding made every
body 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
communication 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
attached 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
judgment, but it was natural to suppose that he thought much higher of
her ladyship 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 intreaty of so near a relation might
  settle every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity
  unblemished could make him. In that case he would return no more. Lady
  Catherine 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 affections 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 teazing on the subject.

  The next morning, as she was going down stairs, she was met by her father,
  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
  connected 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
  conviction 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 congratulations
  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 chosen 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
  gentleman 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 gentleman'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 become apparent, that on the
  score of some family objections on the part of my cousin, she would
  never give her consent 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 admirer 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 allow
  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 pretend 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 dislike, 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 Wickham, 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 penetration, or fear that perhaps, instead
  of his seeing too little, she might have fancied too much.

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1. Ebooks list page : 81
2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 58
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 44
4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 42
5. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 41
6. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 40
7. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 39
8. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 38
9. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 11
10. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 12
11. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 45
12. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 46
13. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 49
14. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 56
15. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 55
16. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 54