Chapter 57 343
Chapter 57
The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth into , could not be easily overcome ; nor could she , for many hours , learn to think of it less than incessantly . Lady Catherine , it appeared , had actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings , for the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr . Darcy . It was a rational scheme , to be sure ! but from what the report of their engagement could originate , Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine ; till she recollected that his being the intimate friend of Bingley , and her being the sister of Jane , was enough , at a time when the expectation of one wedding made everybody eager for another , to supply the idea . She had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her sister must bring them more frequently together . And her neighbours at Lucas Lodge , therefore ( for through their communication with the Collinses , the report , she concluded , had reached Lady Catherine ), had only set that down as almost certain and immediate , which she had looked forward to as possible at some future time .
In revolving Lady Catherine ' s expressions , however , she could not help feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting in this interference . From what she had said of her resolution to prevent their marriage , it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate an application to her nephew ; and how he might take a similar representation of the evils attached to a connection with her , she dared not pronounce . She knew not the exact degree of his affection for his aunt , or his dependence on her judgment , but it was natural to suppose that he thought much higher of her ladyship than she could do ; and it was certain that , in enumerating the miseries of a marriage with one , whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own , his aunt would address him on his weakest side . With his notions of dignity , he would probably feel that the arguments , which to Elizabeth had appeared weak and ridiculous , contained much good sense and solid reasoning .
If he had been wavering before as to what he should do , which had often seemed likely , the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might settle every doubt , and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity