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'Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the

dining-room, for there is such a sight to be seen! I will not

tell you what it is. Make haste, and come down this moment.'

Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her

nothing more; and down they ran into the dining-room

which fronted the lane, in quest of this wonder; it was two

ladies, stopping in a low phaeton at the garden gate.

'And is this all?' cried Elizabeth. 'I expected at least that

the pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but

Lady Catherine and her daughter!'

'La! my dear,' said Maria, quite shocked at the mistake,

'it is not Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson,

who lives with them. The other is Miss de Bourgh. Only

look at her. She is quite a little creature. Who would have

thought she could be so thin and small!'

'She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in

all this wind. Why does she not come in?'

'Oh, Charlotte says she hardly ever does. It is the greatest

of favours when Miss de Bourgh comes in.'

'I like her appearance,' said Elizabeth, struck with other

ideas. 'She looks sickly and cross. Yes, she will do for him

very well. She will make him a very proper wife.'

Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate

in conversation with the ladies; and Sir William, to Eliza-

beth's high diversion, was stationed in the doorway, in

earnest contemplation of the greatness before him, and con-

stantly bowing whenever Miss de Bourgh looked that way.

At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies

drove on, and the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins

no sooner saw the two girls than he began to congratulate

them on their good fortune, which Charlotte explained by

letting them know that the whole party was asked to dine at

Rosings the next day.

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