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Chapter LVII

The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary

visit threw Elizabeth into could not be easily over-

come; nor could she for many hours learn to think of

it less than incessantly. Lady Catherine, it appeared, had

actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings for

the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement

with Mr. Darcy. It was a rational scheme to be sure! but

from what the report of their engagement could originate,

Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; till she recollected that

_his_ being the intimate friend of Bingley, and _her_ being the

sister of Jane, was enough, at a time when the expectation

of one wedding made everybody eager for another, to supply

the idea. She had not herself forgotten to feel that the

marriage of her sister must bring them more frequently to-

gether. And her neighbours at Lucas Lodge, therefore (for

through their communication with the Collinses, the report,

she concluded, had reached Lady Catherine), had only set

_that_ down as almost certain and immediate which _she_ had

looked forward to as possible at some future time.

In revolving Lady Catherine's expressions, however, she

could not help feeling some uneasiness as to the possible

consequence of her persisting in this interference. From

what she had said of her resolution to prevent the marriage,

it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate an application

to her nephew; and how he might take a similar representa-

tion of the evils attached to a connection with her she dared

not pronounce. She knew not the exact degree of his affec-

tion for his aunt, or his dependence on her judgment, but it

was natural to suppose that he thought much higher of her

Ladyship than _she_ could do; and it was certain, that in

enumerating the miseries of a marriage with _one_ whose

immediate connections were so unequal to his own, his aunt

would address him on his weakest side. With his notions

of dignity, he would probably feel that the arguments, which

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