CHAPTER XV.
The discomposure of spirits, which this extraordinary visit threwElizabeth into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she for manyhours, learn to think of it less than incessantly. Lady Catherine itappeared, 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 oftheir 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 theexpectation of one wedding, made every body eager for another, to supplythe idea. She had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of hersister must bring them more frequently together. And her neighbours atLucas lodge, therefore, (for through their communication with theCollinses, the report she concluded had reached lady Catherine) had onlyset _that_ down, as almost certain and immediate, which _she_ had lookedforward to as possible, at some future time.
In revolving lady Catherine's expressions, however, she could not helpfeeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persistingin this interference. From what she had said of her resolution toprevent their marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditatean application to her nephew; and how _he_ might take a similarrepresentation of the evils attached to a connection with her, she darednot pronounce. She knew not the exact degree of his affection for hisaunt, or his dependence on her judgment, but it was natural to supposethat he thought much higher of her ladyship than _she_ could do; and itwas certain, that in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with _one_,whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own, his aunt wouldaddress him on his weakest side. With his notions of dignity, he wouldprobably feel that the arguments, which to Elizabeth had appeared weakand ridiculous, contained much good sense and solid reasoning.
If he had been wavering before, as to what he should do, which had oftenseemed likely, the advice and intreaty of so near a relation mightsettle every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy, as dignityunblemished could make him. In that case he would return no more. LadyCatherine might see him in her way through town; and his engagement toBingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way.
”If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise, should come tohis friend within a few days,” she added, ”I shall know how tounderstand it. I shall then give over every expectation, every wish ofhis constancy. If he is satisfied with only regretting me, when he mighthave obtained my affections and hand, I shall soon cease to regret himat all.”
* * * * *
The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing who their visitor hadbeen, was very great; but they obligingly satisfied it, with the samekind of supposition, which had appeased Mrs. Bennet's curiosity; andElizabeth was spared from much teazing on the subject.
The next morning, as she was going down stairs, she was met by herfather, who came out of his library with a letter in his hand.
”Lizzy,” said he, ”I was going to look for you; come into my room.”
She followed him thither; and her curiosity to know what he had to tellher, was heightened by the supposition of its being in some mannerconnected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it mightbe from lady Catherine; and she anticipated with dismay all theconsequent explanations.
She followed her father to the fire place, and they both sat down. Hethen said,
”I have received a letter this morning that has astonished meexceedingly. As it principally concerns yourself, you ought to know itscontents. I did not know before, that I had _two_ daughters on the brinkof matrimony. Let me congratulate you, on a very important conquest.”
The colour now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneousconviction of its being a letter from the nephew, instead of the aunt;and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explainedhimself at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed toherself; when her father continued,
”You look conscious. Young ladies have great penetration in such mattersas these; but I think I may defy even _your_ sagacity, to discover thename of your admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins.”
”From Mr. Collins! and what can _he_ have to say?”
”Something very much to the purpose of course. He begins withcongratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest daughter, ofwhich it seems he has been told, by some of the good-natured, gossipingLucases. I shall not sport with your impatience, by reading what he sayson that point. What relates to yourself, is as follows. ”Having thusoffered you the sincere congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself onthis happy event, let me now add a short hint on the subject of another:of which we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughterElizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennet, afterher elder sister has resigned it, and the chosen partner of her fate,may be reasonably looked up to, as one of the most illustriouspersonages in this land.”
”Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by this?” ”This younggentleman is blessed in a peculiar way, with every thing the heart ofmortal can most desire,--splendid property, noble kindred, and extensivepatronage. Yet in spite of all these temptations, let me warn my cousinElizabeth, and yourself, of what evils you may incur, by a precipitateclosure with this gentleman's proposals, which, of course, you will beinclined to take immediate advantage of.”
”Have you any idea, Lizzy, who this gentleman is? But now it comes out.”
”My motive for cautioning you, is as follows. We have reason to imaginethat his aunt, lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not look on the match witha friendly eye.”
”_Mr. Darcy_, you see, is the man! Now, Lizzy, I think I _have_surprised you. Could he, or the Lucases, have pitched on any man, withinthe circle of our acquaintance, whose name would have given the lie moreeffectually to what they related? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at anywoman but to see a blemish, and who probably never looked at _you_ inhis life! It is admirable!”
Elizabeth tried to join in her father's pleasantry, but could only forceone most reluctant smile. Never had his wit been directed in a manner solittle agreeable to her.
”Are you not diverted?”
”Oh! yes. Pray read on.”
”After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship lastnight, she immediately, with her usual condescension, expressed what shefelt on the occasion; when it became apparent, that on the score of somefamily objections on the part of my cousin, she would never give herconsent to what she termed so disgraceful a match. I thought it my dutyto give the speediest intelligence of this to my cousin, that she andher noble admirer may be aware of what they are about, and not runhastily into a marriage which has not been properly sanctioned.” ”Mr.Collins moreover adds,” ”I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia's sadbusiness has been so well hushed up, and am only concerned that theirliving together before the marriage took place, should be so generallyknown. I must not, however, neglect the duties of my station, or refrainfrom declaring my amazement, at hearing that you received the youngcouple into your house as soon as they were married. It was anencouragement of vice; and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I shouldvery strenuously have opposed it. You ought certainly to forgive them asa christian, but never to admit them in your sight, or allow their namesto be mentioned in your hearing.” ”_That_ is his notion of christianforgiveness! The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte'ssituation, and his expectation of a young olive-branch. But, Lizzy, youlook as if you did not enjoy it. You are not going to be _Missish_, Ihope, and pretend to be affronted at an idle report. For what do welive, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in ourturn?”
”Oh!” cried Elizabeth, ”I am excessively diverted. But it is sostrange!”
”Yes--_that_ is what makes it amusing. Had they fixed on any other manit would have been nothing; but _his_ perfect indifference, and _your_pointed dislike, make it so delightfully absurd! Much as I abominatewriting, I would not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for anyconsideration. Nay, when I read a letter of his, I cannot help givinghim the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence andhypocrisy of my son-in-law. And pray, Lizzy, what said Lady Catherineabout this report? Did she call to refuse her consent?”
To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it hadbeen asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by hisrepeating it. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make herfeelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when shewould rather have cried. Her father had most cruelly mortified her, bywhat he said of Mr. Darcy's indifference, and she could do nothing butwonder at such a want of penetration, or fear that perhaps, instead ofhis seeing too _little_, she might have fancied too _much_.