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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 188
Elizabeth；
‘Do not make yourself uneasy； my dear cousin； about your
apparel。 Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of
dress in us； which becomes herself and daughter。 I would advise
you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the
rest； there is no occasion for any thing more。 Lady Catherine will
not think the worse of you for being simply dressed。 She likes to
have the distinction of rank preserved。’
While they were dressing； he came two or three times to their
different doors； to recommend their being quick； as Lady
Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner。—
Such formidable accounts of her Ladyship； and her manner of
living； quite frightened Maria Lucas； who had been little used to
company； and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosings；
with as much apprehension； as her father had done to his
presentation at St。 James’s。
As the weather was fine； they had a pleasant walk of about half
a mile across the park。—Every park has its beauty and its
prospects； and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with； though she
could not be in such raptures as Mr。 Collins expected the scene to
inspire； and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the
windows in front of the house； and his relation of what the glazing
altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh。
When they ascended the steps to the hall； Maria’s alarm was
every moment increasing； and even Sir William did not look
perfectly calm。—Elizabeth’s courage did not fail her。 She had
heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her aweful from any
extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue； and the mere
stateliness of money and rank； she thought she could witness
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 189
without trepidation。
From the entrance hall； of which Mr。 Collins pointed out； with a
rapturous air； the fine proportion and finished ornaments； they
followed the servants through an anti…chamber； to the room where
Lady Catherine； her daughter； and Mrs。 Jenkinson were sitting。—
Her Ladyship； with great condescension； arose to receive them；
and as Mrs。 Collins had settled it with her husband that the office
of introduction should be her’s； it was performed in a proper
manner； without any of those apologies and thanks which he
would have thought necessary。
In spite of having been at St。 James’s； Sir William was so
completely awed； by the grandeur surrounding him； that he had
but just courage enough to make a very low bow； and take his 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
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 190
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 bear。
But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive
admiration； and gave most gracious smiles； especially when any
dish on the table proved a novelty to them。 The party did not
supply much conversation。 Elizabeth was ready to speak
whenever there was an opening； but she was seated between
Charlotte and Miss De Bourgh—the former of whom was engaged
in listening to Lady Catherine； and the latter said not a word to
her all dinner time。 Mrs。 Jenkinson was chiefly employed in
watching how little Miss De Bourgh ate； pressing her to try some
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 191
other dish； and fearing she were indisposed。 Maria thought
speaking out of the question； and the gentlemen did nothing but
eat and admire。
When the ladies returned to the drawing room； there was little
to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk； which she did without
any intermission till coffee came in； delivering her opinion on
every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not
used to have her judgment controverted。 She enquired into
Charlotte’s domestic concerns familiarly and minutely； and gave
her a great deal of advice； as to the management of them all； told
her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as
her’s； and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her
poultry。 Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great
Lady’s attention； which could furnish her with an occasion of
dictating to others。 In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs。
Collins； she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and
Elizabeth； but especially to the latter； of whose connections she
knew the least； and who she observed to Mrs。 Collins； was a very
genteel； pretty kind of girl。 She asked her at different times； how
many sisters she had； whether they were older or younger than
herself； whether any of them were likely to be married； whether
they were handsome； where they had been educated； what
carriage her father kept； and what had been her mother’s maiden
name？—Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions； but
answered them very composedly。—Lady Catherine then observed；
‘Your father’s estate is entailed