Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 118 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 118

JANE AUSTEN

dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday

before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening.

Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he

knew, but he had never seen anything but affability in

her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any

other gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to

his joining in the society of the neighbourhood nor to

his leaving the parish occasionally for a week or two, to

visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise

him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose

with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his

humble parsonage, where she had perfectly approved

all the alterations he had been making, and had even

vouchsafed to suggest some herselfsome shelves in

the closet upstairs.”

“That is all very proper and civil, I am sure,” said

Mrs. Bennet, “and I dare say she is a very agreeable

woman. It is a pity that great ladies in general are not

more like her. Does she live near you, sir?”

“The garden in which stands my humble abode

is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her

ladyship’s residence.”

“I think you said she was a widow, sir? Has she any

family?”

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