第130章[第1页/共5页]

“You can be at no loss,Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither.Your own heart,your own conscience, must tell you why I come.”

“This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in summer;the windows are full west.”

“May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr.and Mrs.Collins well.”

As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner:―

“How could I ever think her like her nephew?”said she,as she looked in her face.

Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling.But no letter appeared,and she was completely puzzled. Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some refreshment; but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely,declined eating anything;and then,rising up,said to Elizabeth,

“I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.”

They were of course all intending to be surprised;but their astonishment was beyond their expectation;and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt.

“Indeed,you are mistaken,Madam.I have not been at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here.”