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Chapter LVI

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,

was familiar to them. As it was certain, however, that some-

body was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Ben-

net 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 un-

known to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt.

She entered the room with an air more than usually un-

gracious, 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 introduc-

tion 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?'

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