Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.
She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious,made no other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word.Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her ladyship's entrance,though no request of introduction had been made.
“And that I suppose is one of your sisters.”
“Yes,very well.I saw them the night before last.”
“How could I ever think her like her nephew?”said she,as she looked in her face.
As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner:―
“If!Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it?Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves?Do you not know that such a report is spread abroad?”
Mrs.Bennet,all amazement,though flattered by having a guest of such high importance,received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence, she said very stiffly to Elizabeth,
Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it.They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.
“You can be at no loss,Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither.Your own heart,your own conscience, must tell you why I come.”