{{prxprp139.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 139 ||

after her. She opened the door and met Maria in the landing

place, who, breathless with agitation, cried out:

'Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the

dining-room, for there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell

you what it is. Make haste, and come down this moment.'

Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing

more, and down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted

the lane, in quest of this wonder; it was two ladies stopping in a

low phaeton at the garden gate.

'And is this alb' cried Elizabeth. 'I expected at least that

the pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady

Catherine and her daughter!'

'La! my dear,' said Maria, quite shocked at the mistake, 'it is

not Lady Catherine. -- The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who

lives with them; the other is Miss de Bourgh. Only look at her.

She is quite a little creature. Who would have thought she could

be so thin and small!'

'She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all

this wind. Why does she not come in l'

'Oh! Charlotte says she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of

favours when Miss de Bourgh comes in.'

'I like her appearance,' said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas.

'She looks sickly and cross. -- Yes, she will do for him very well.

She will make him a very proper wife.'

Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in

conversation with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth's

high diversion, was stationed in the doorway, in earnest con'

templation of the greatness before him, and constantly bowing

whenever Miss de Bourgh looked that way.

At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies drove

on, and the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins no sooner

saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their

good fortune, which Charlotte explained by letting them know

that the whole party was asked to dine at Rosings the next day.

 [[139]]