{{prhprp482.jpg}}

'Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done.

To all the objections I have already urged I have still another

to add. I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest

sister's infamous elopement. I know it all; that the young

man's marrying her was a patched-up business, at the ex-

pense of your father and uncle. And is _such_ a girl to be my

nephew's sister? Is _her_ husband, who is the son of his late

father's steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth! -- of

what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be

thus polluted?'

'You can _now_ have nothing further to say,' she resentfully

answered. 'You have insulted me in every possible method.

I must beg to return to the house.'

And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also, and

they turned back. Her Ladyship was highly incensed.

'You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of

my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider

that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of

everybody?'

'Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say. You know

my sentiments.'

'You are then resolved to have him?'

'I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in

that manner which will, in my own opinion, constitute my

happiness, without reference to _you,_ or to any person so

wholly unconnected with me.'

'It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse

to obey the claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are

determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and

make him the contempt of the world.'

'Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude,' replied Elizabeth,

'has any possible claim on me, in the present instance. No

principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr.

Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or

the indignation of the world, if the former _were_ excited by

his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern

and the world in general would have too much sense to

join in the scorn.'

'And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve!

Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine,

 [482]