{{prxprp142.jpg}} || 142 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

seat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almost

out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing

which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the

scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. --

Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly marked

features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was

not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as

to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not

rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said, was spoken

in so authoritative a tone, as marked her self-importance, and

brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and

from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady

Catherine to be exactly what he had represented.

When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and

deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she

turned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost have joined in

Maria's astonishment at her being so thin and so small. There

was neither in figure nor face, any likeness between the ladies.

Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; her features, though not

plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except in a

low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there was

nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening

to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction

before her eyes.

After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the

windows to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to

point out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing

them that it was much better worth looking at in the summer.

The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the

servants, and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had

promised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at

the bottom of the table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if

he felt that life could furnish nothing greater. -- He carved, and

ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dish was

commended, first by him, and then by Sir William, who was

now enough recovered to echo whatever his son^in^law said, in

a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could

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