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‘Tell me once for all； are you engaged to him？’
Though Elizabeth would not； for the mere purpose of obliging
Lady Catherine； have answered this question； she could not but
say； after a moment’s deliberation；
‘I am not。’
Lady Catherine seemed pleased。
‘And will you promise me； never to enter into such an
engagement？’
‘I will make no promise of the kind。’
‘Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished。 I expected to find a
more reasonable young woman。 But do not deceive yourself into a
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belief that I will ever recede。 I shall not go away； till you have
given me the assurance I require。
‘And I certainly never shall give it。 I am not to be intimidated
into anything so wholly unreasonable。 Your ladyship wants Mr。
Darcy to marry your daughter； but would my giving you the
wished…for promise； make their marriage at all more probable？
Supposing him to be attached to me； would my refusing to accept
his hand； make him wish to bestow it on his cousin？ Allow me to
say； Lady Catherine； that the arguments with which you have
supported this extraordinary application； have been as frivolous as
the application was ill…judged。 You have widely mistaken my
character； if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as
these。 How far your nephew might approve of your interference in
his affairs； I cannot tell； but you have certainly no right to concern
yourself in mine。 I must beg； therefore； to be importuned no
farther on the subject。’
‘Not so hasty； if you please。 I have by no means done。 To all the
objections I have already urged； I have still another to add。 I am no
stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister’s infamous
elopement。 I know it all； that the young man’s marrying her； was a
patched…up business； at the expence of your father and uncles。
And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister？ Is her husband； is the
son of his late father’s steward； to be his brother？ Heaven and
earth！—of what are you thinking？ Are the shades of Pemberley to
be thus polluted？’
‘You can now have nothing farther to say；’ she resentfully
answered。 ‘You have insulted me； in every possible method。 I must
beg to return to the house。’
And she rose as she spoke。 Lady Catherine rose also； and they
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turned back。 Her ladyship was highly incensed。
‘You have no regard； then； for the honour and credit of my
nephew！ Unfeeling； selfish girl！ Do you not consider that a
connection with you； must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody？’
‘Lady Catherine； I have nothing farther to say。 You know my
sentiments。’
‘You are then resolved to have him？’
‘I have said no such thing。 I am only resolved to act in that
manner； which will； in my own opinion； constitute my happiness；
without reference to you； or to any person so wholly unconnected
with me。’
‘It is well。 You refuse； then； to oblige me。 You refuse to obey the
claims of duty； honour； and gratitude。 You are determined to ruin
him in the opinion of all his friends； and make him the contempt of
the world。’
‘Neither duty； nor honour； nor gratitude；’ replied Elizabeth；
‘have any possible claim on me； in the present instance。 No
principle of either； would be violated by my marriage with Mr。
Darcy。 And with regard to the resentment of his family； or the
indignation of the world； if the former were excited by his
marrying me； it would not give me one moment’s concern—and
the world in general would have too much sense to join in the
scorn。’
‘And this is your real opinion！ This is your final resolve！ Very
well。 I shall now know how to act。 Do not imagine； Miss Bennet；
that your ambition will ever be gratified。 I came to try you。 I hoped
to find you reasonable； but depend upon it I will carry my point。’
In this manner Lady Catherine talked on； till they were at the
door of the carriage； when turning hastily round； she added；
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‘I take no leave of you； Miss Bennet。 I send no compliments to
your mother。 You deserve no such attention。 I am most seriously
displeased。’
Elizabeth made no answer； and without attempting to persuade
her ladyship to return into the house； walked quietly into it
herself。 She heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded up
stairs。 Her mother impatiently met her at the door of the dressing…
room； to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and
rest herself。
‘She did not choose it；’ said her daughter； ‘she would go。’
‘She is a very fine…looking woman！ and her calling here was
prodigiously civil！ for she only came； I suppose； to tell us the
Collinses were well。 She is on her road somewhere； I dare say； and
so passing through Meryton； thought she might as well call on you。
I suppose she had nothing particular to say to you； Lizzy？’
Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here； for to
acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible。
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CHAPTER XV
he discomposure of spirits； which this extraordinary visit
threw Elizabeth into； could not be easily overcome； nor
T
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 that 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 immediate； 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
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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