“And that I suppose is one of your sisters.”
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.
“Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family,”said Elizabeth coolly,“will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report is in existence.”
“Yes, madam,”said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to Lady Catherine.“She is my youngest girl but one.My youngest of all is lately married,and my eldest is somewhere about the grounds, walking with a young man who,I believe,will soon become a part of the family.”
“I never heard that it was.”
“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.”
“I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.”
“May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr.and Mrs.Collins well.”
“It is nothing in comparison of Rosings,my lady,I dare say;but I assure you it is much larger than Sir William Lucas's.”