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enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often for-

gotten.

She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in

the country. It was spoken of again while they were at din-

ner, when Mr. Collins joining in, observed,--

'Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing

Lady Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church,

and I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is

all affability and condescension, and I doubt not but you will

be honoured with some portion of her notice when service

is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will

include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with

which she honours us during your stay here. Her behaviour

to my dear Charlotte is charming. We dine at Rosings twice

every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her Lady-

ship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I _should_ say, one

of her Ladyship's carriages, for she has several.'

'Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman, in-

deed,' added Charlotte, 'and a most attentive neighbour.'

'Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is

the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much

deference.'

The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertford-

shire news, and telling again what had been already written;

and when it closed, Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber,

had to meditate upon Charlotte's degree of contentment, to

understand her address in guiding, and composure in bearing

with, her husband, and to acknowledge that it was all done

very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit would

pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexa-

tious interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their

intercourse with Rosings. A lively imagination soon settled

it all.

About the middle of the next day, as she was in her room

getting ready for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to

speak the whole house in confusion; and, after listening a

moment, she heard somebody running upstairs in a violent

hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened the door

and met Maria in the landing-place, who, breathless with

agitation, cried out,--

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