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Chapter LVII

The discomposure of spirits, which this extraordinary visit threw

Elizabeth into, could not be easily overcome; 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 every body eager for another, to supply the idea.

She had not herself forgotten to feel diat the marriage of her sister

must bring them more frequently together. 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 imme^

diate, 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 their marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth

that she must meditate an application to her nephew; and how he

might take a similar representation of the evils attached to a

connection with her, she dared not pronounce. She knew not

the exact degree of his affection 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

3ii

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