Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 593 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 593

Pride and Prejudice

entreaty of so near a relation might settle every doubt,

and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity

unblemished could make him. In that case he would

return no more. Lady Catherine might see him in her

way through town; and his engagement to Bingley of

coming again to Netherfield must give way.

“If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise

should come to his friend within a few days,” she added,

“I shall know how to understand it. I shall then give

over every expectation, every wish of his constancy. If

he is satisfied with only regretting me, when he might

have obtained my affections and hand, I shall soon

cease to regret him at all.”

The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing

who their visitor had been, was very great; but they

obligingly satisfied it, with the same kind of supposi-

tion which had appeased Mrs. Bennet’s curiosity; and

Elizabeth was spared from much teasing on the subject.

The next morning, as she was going downstairs, she

was met by her father, who came out of his library with

a letter in his hand.

“Lizzy,” said he, “I was going to look for you; come

into my room.”

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