{{prxprp307.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 307 ||

Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied,

'The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From

their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the

favourite wish of his mother, as well as of her's. While in their

cradles, we planned the union: and now, at the moment when

the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished, in their marriage,

to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no

importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family! Do

you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engage-'

ment with Miss de Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of

propriety and delicacy? have you not heard me say, that from

his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin »'

'Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me J if

there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall

certainly not be kept from it, by knowing that his mother and

aunt wished him to marry Miss de Bourgh. You both did as

much as you could, in planning the marriage. Its completion

depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor

inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make

another choice; and if I am that choice, why may I not

accept him?'

'Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it.

Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his

family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all.

You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by every one con-'

netted with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name

will never even be mentioned by any of us.'

'These are heavy misfortunes,' replied Elizabeth. 'But the

wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of

happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could,

upon the whole, have no cause to repine.'

'Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this

your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing

due to me on that score?

'Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I

came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose;

nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit

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