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Pride & Prejudice – page 273

Pride and Prejudice

“I am the less surprised at what has happened,”

replied Sir William, “from that knowledge of what the

manners of the great really are, which my situation in

life has allowed me to acquire. About the court, such

instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon.”

Scarcely anything was talked of the whole day or

next morning but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was

carefully instructing them in what they were to expect,

that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so

splendid a dinner, might not wholly overpower them.

When the ladies were separating for the toilette,

he said to 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 her daughter. I would advise you

merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to

the restthere is no occasion for anything 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

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