Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 67 (1)
One morning, a week after Bingley's engagement to Jane, he and the ladies of the house were sitting in the drawing-room upstairs, when they heard the sound of a carriage, they all went to the windows, and saw a four-wheeled carriage. The horse-drawn cart drove into the meadow.Neighbors generally don't come to visit so early, and the configuration of the car doesn't look like it's from the neighborhood.The horse is the horse on the post station, and they are not familiar with the carriage and driver's uniform.It was certain, however, that a visitor was coming, and Bingley at once persuaded Miss Bennet to escape this visitor and follow him beyond the undergrowth.The two of them left, and the three remaining were still guessing, but unfortunately they all felt at a loss.It was not until the door was opened and the visitor entered that they realized that it was Madame Catherine de Bourgh.

They were surprised, of course, but they did not expect such a surprise, and although Mrs. Bennet and Kitty did not know the lady at all, they were even more favored than Elizabeth.

She walked into the room as if no one else was there, only tilted her head slightly to Elizabeth's salute, and then sat down without saying a word.Here, too, she would not make the ceremony of introduction, but Elizabeth gave her mother her name when she came in.

Mrs. Bennet, though she was honored to have a visitor of such eminence, was greatly puzzled.She received her with the utmost courtesy.However, Madam Catherine sat there, but turned a deaf ear to it. After a while, she just said coldly to Elizabeth:

"You are well, Miss Bennet. I think that lady is your mother."

Elizabeth answered curtly yes.

"I think this one is your sister."

"Yes, ma'am," said Mrs. Bennet, flattered at being able to address such a lady, "she is my fourth daughter. My youngest, the fifth, has recently married, and my The eldest daughter is somewhere, walking with her sweetheart, a young man who I believe will soon become a part of our family."

"Your garden is not very large," said Lady Catherine, after a moment's silence.

"I dare say it's nothing compared with Lady Rosings' garden, but it's a lot bigger than Sir William Lucas's, I must say."

"This room must not be suitable as a sitting room in summer. The windows all face west."

Mrs. Bennet said they never sat there after lunch, and added at last:
"May I take the liberty of asking my lady how was the Collinses when you left?"

"Yes, very well. I saw them the night before."

Elizabeth thought now that Catherine would then draw out of her pocket a letter from Carlotito, for that seemed the only possible motive for her visit.However, she didn't see Madam take out the letter, she couldn't figure it out at all.

Mrs. Bennet entreated her ladyship with the utmost civility for a refreshment; but Lady Catherine refused it unceremoniously; after a while she rose and said to Elizabeth:
"Miss Bennet, there is something of the country at the end of your lawn. If you would accompany me, I should be glad to have a look."

"Go, dear daughter," said her mother, "and take my lady about the paths. I think she will like our solitude."

Elizabeth obeyed her mother, ran into her room, took a parasol, and accompanied the distinguished guest downstairs.Lady Catherine opened the doors of the dining-room and drawing-room, looked around as they passed through the hall, and praised the comfortably furnished rooms.

Her carriage was still at the door, and Elizabeth saw her maid in it.They walked silently along the cobblestones towards the grove; Elizabeth resolved not to bother with such a woman, whose manner was now more haughty and insolent than usual. "How could I ever have supposed that she resembled her nephew?" said Elizabeth to herself, looking into her face.

As soon as they entered the grove, Lady Catherine began her conversation in the following manner:

"Miss Bennet, you must know why I am here. Your conscience will tell you why I am here."

Elizabeth made no attempt to conceal her astonishment.

"Indeed, you are mistaken, ma'am. I cannot at all explain why I should see you here."

"Miss Bennet," replied the lady angrily, "you should know that I will not allow anyone to play tricks on me. Whatever you try to argue, you will find that I am not. I His character has always been famous for his sincerity and candor. On such an important matter, of course I will stick to my character. Two days ago, I heard a shocking news. Say no Only your sister is about to get married, and you, Miss Bennet Elizabeth, will soon be married to my nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a wild rumor; though I believe He can't be ashamed of doing such things, I still decided to come to this place immediately and tell you my thoughts."

"If you believe this rumor can't be true," Elizabeth blushed in surprise and disgust, "then I really don't understand why you have come here so hard. May I ask Madam What's the lesson on that?"

"I ask you to immediately explain to everyone that this is all a rumour."

"You came to Longbourne to see me and my family," said Elizabeth dryly, "and that in itself is a confirmation of the rumor; if such a rumor exists."

"If so, are you pretending not to know what's going on? Didn't you spread the news with all your might? Don't you know that the news has made a lot of noise in the city?"

"I've never heard of it."

"Can you swear that there is no basis for this news?"

"I didn't claim that I have the same frankness as you, madam. You can ask questions, at least it's up to me if you want to answer them."

"I can't stand your attitude. Miss Bennet, I insist on a satisfactory answer. Has my nephew ever proposed to you?"

"Madame, you have said that it is impossible."

"That should be so; as long as he hasn't lost his mind, he won't do it. But your artifice and all kinds of temptations may also make him temporarily obsessed, so that he forgets his own and himself. The responsibility of his family. You may have charmed him."

"If that's the case, I won't admit it to you."

"Miss Bennet, do you know who you are talking to? I am not used to hearing you talk like this. I am almost the closest person in the world to him, and I have a right to know all the important things about him."

"But you have no right to know mine; and you will never get me to tell the truth with your insolence."

"Please listen to me. There is absolutely no chance of your daring to pursue this marriage. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now, what have you to say?" ?”

"Just this: if he's engaged, you have no reason to doubt that he will propose to me."

Lady Catherine hesitated, then replied:
"Their engagement is special. They have had a crush on each other since they were children. It was his mother's wish, and her mother's wish. We planned it when they were in their cradles." Marriage, now when the wishes of the two old sisters are about to come true in their marriage, there is a girl from a lowly background, insignificant, and has nothing to do with the Darcy family who is going to obstruct it! Don't you care about it at all? The wishes of his friends? Disregarding his tacit marriage to Mademoiselle de Bourgh? Have you no shame or decency? Have you not heard me say that from an early age he was bound to his cousin's fate? together?"

(End of this chapter)