ThedisposureofspiritswhichthisextraordinaryvisitthrewElizabethinto,couldnotbeeasilyovere;norcouldthisjourneyfromRosings,fortheportoftheirengagementcouldoriginate,Elizabethwasatalosstoimagine;tillsherecollectedthathisbeingtheintimatefriendofBingley,andherbeingthesisterofJane,wasenough,atatimewhentheexpectationofoneommunicationwiththeCollinses,thereport,sheconcluded,hadreachedLadyCatherine),hadonlysetthatdownasalmostcertainandimmediate,whichshehadlookedforwardtoaspossibleatsomefuturetime.

    InrevolvingLadyCatherine'sexpressions,however,shecouldnothelpfeelingsomeuneasinessastotage,itoccurredtoElizabeththatshemustmeditateanapplicationtohernephew;andhowhemighttakeasimilarrepresentationoftheevhisdependenceonherjudgment,butitwasnaturaltosupposethathethoughtmuchhigherofherladyshipthanshecoulddo;anditwascertainthat,inenumeratingthemiseriesofamarriagewithone,whoseimmediateconnectionsweresouneqrguments,whichtoElizabethhadappearedweakandridiculous,containedmuchgoodsenseandsolidreasoning.

    Ifhehadbeenwaveringbeforeastowhatheshoulddo,whichhadoftenseemedlikely,theadviceandentreatyofsoneararelationmightsettleeverydoubt,anddeterminehimiminherwaythroughtown;andhisengagementtoBingleyofingagaintoNetherfieldmustgiveway.

    “If,therefore,anexcusefornotkeepinghispromiseshouldetohisfriendwbtainedmyaffectionsandhand,Ishallsoonceasetoregrethimatall.”

    Thesurpriseoftherestofthefamily,onhearingwhotheirvisitorhadbeen,wasverygreat;buttheyobliginglysatisfied;andElizabethwassparedfrommuchteasingonthesubject.

    Thenextmorning,asshewasgoingdownstairs,shewasmetbyherfather,whocameoutofhislibrarywithaletterinhishand.

    “Lizzy,”saidhe,“Iwasgoingtolookforyou;eintomyroom.”

    Shefollowedhimthither;andhercuriositytoknowwhathehadtotellherwasheightenedbythesupposition;andsheanticipatedwithdismayalltheconsequentexplanations.

    ShetfThecolournowrushedintoElizabeth'scheeksintheinstantaneousconvictionofitsbeingaletterfromthenephew,insteadoftheaunt;andshewasundeterminedwhethermosttobepleasedthatheexplainedhimselfatall,oroffendedthathisletterwasnotratheraddressedtoherself;;butIthinkImayhatcanhehavetosay?”