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Pride & Prejudice – page 592

JANE AUSTEN

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 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 connections were

so unequal to his own, his aunt would address him on

his weakest side. With his notions of dignity, he would

probably feel that the arguments, which to Elizabeth

had appeared weak and ridiculous, contained much

good sense and solid reasoning.

If he had been wavering before as to what he should

do, which had often seemed likely, the advice and

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