{{prhprp483.jpg}}

Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I

came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but depend

upon it I will carry my point.'

In this manner Lady Catherine talked on till they were at

the door of the carriage, when, turning hastily round, she

added,--

'I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compli-

ments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I

am most seriously displeased.'

Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to per-

suade her Ladyship to return into the house, walked quietly

into it herself. She heard the carriage drive away as she

proceeded upstairs. Her mother impatiently met her at the

door of her dressing-room, to ask why Lady Catherine would

not come in again and rest herself.

'She did not choose it,' said her daughter; 'she would go.'

'She is a very fine-looking woman! and her calling here was

prodigiously civil! for she only came, I suppose, to tell us the

Collinses were well. She is on her road somewhere, I dare-

say; and so, passing through Meryton, thought she might as

well call on you. I suppose she had nothing particular to say

to you, Lizzy?'

Elizabeth was forced to give in to a little falsehood here;

for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was

impossible.

 [483]