Chapter 15

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 deslre, -- 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.