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you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the dis-

tinction of rank preserved.'

While they were dressing, he came two or three times to

their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as

Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for

her dinner. Such formidable accounts of her Ladyship,

and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas,

who had been little used to company; and she looked for-

ward to her introduction at Rosings with as much apprehen-

sion as her father had done to his presentation at St.

James's.

As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of

about half a mile across the park. Every park has its beauty

and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased

with, though she could not be in such raptures as Mr.

Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly

affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of

the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether

had originally cost Sir Lewis de Bourgh.

When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm

was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did

not look perfectly calm. Elizabeth's courage did not fail

her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke

her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous

virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank she

thought she could witness without trepidation.

From the entrance hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed

out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and finished

ornaments, they followed the servants through an ante-

chamber to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter,

and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. Her Ladyship, with great

condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins

had settled it with her husband that the office of introduc-

tion should be hers, it was performed in a proper manner,

without any of those apologies and thanks which he would

have thought necessary.

In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was

so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that

he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow,

and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter,

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