Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 56

One morning, about a week after Bingley's engagement with

Jane had been formed, as he and the females of the family

were sitting together in the dining-room, their attention

was suddenly drawn to the window, by the sound of a carriage;

and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the lawn.

It was too early in the morning for visitors, and besides, the

equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours.

The horses were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery

of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them. As it

was certain, however, that somebody was coming, Bingley

instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of

such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the shrubbery.

They both set off, and the conjectures of the remaining three

continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was

thrown open and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine

de Bourgh.

They were of course all intending to be surprised; but their

astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of

Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to

them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt.

She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious,

made no other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight

inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word.

Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her ladyship's

entrance, though no request of introduction had been made.

Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a

guest of such high importance, received her with the utmost

politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence, she said

very stiffly to Elizabeth,

"I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose,

is your mother."

Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.

"And _that_ I suppose is one of your sisters."

"Yes, madam," said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to a Lady

Catherine. "She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of

all is lately married, and my eldest is somewhere about the

grounds, walking with a young man who, I believe, will soon

become a part of the family."

"You have a very small park here," returned Lady Catherine

after a short silence.

"It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my lady, I dare say;

but I assure you it is much larger than Sir William Lucas's."