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along the gravel walk that led to the copse: Elizabeth was

determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman

who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.

'How could I ever think her like her nephew?' said she,

as she looked in her face.

As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began

in the following manner:--

'You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the rea-

son of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own con-

science, must tell you why I come.'

Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.

'Indeed, you are mistaken, madam; I have not been at all

able to account for the honour of seeing you here.'

'Miss Bennet,' replied her Ladyship, in an angry tone, 'you

ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. But however

insincere _you_ may choose to be, you shall not find _me_ so.

My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and

frankness; and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall

certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming

nature reached me two days ago. I was told, that not only

your sister was on the point of being most advantageously

married, but that _you,_ that Miss Elizabeth Bennet would, in

all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my

own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I _know_ it must be a scan-

dalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as

to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on

setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments

known to you.'

'If you believed it impossible to be true,' said Elizabeth,

colouring with astonishment and disdain, 'I wonder you took

the trouble of coming so far. What could your Ladyship

propose by it?'

'At once to insist upon having such a report universally

contradicted.'

'Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family,' said

Elizabeth coolly, 'will be rather a confirmation of it; if, in-

deed, such a report is in existence.'

'If! do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not

been industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not

know that such a report is spread abroad?'

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