Chapter 57 344
unblemished could make him . In that case he would return no more . Lady Catherine might see him in her way through town ; and his engagement to Bingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way .
" If , therefore , an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his friend within a few days ," she added , " I shall know how to understand it . I shall then give over every expectation , every wish of his constancy . If he is satisfied with only regretting me , when he might have obtained my affections and hand , I shall soon cease to regret him at all ."
* * * * *
The surprise of the rest of the family , on hearing who their visitor had been , was very great ; but they obligingly satisfied it , with the same kind of supposition which had appeased Mrs . Bennet ' s curiosity ; and Elizabeth was spared from much teasing on the subject .
The next morning , as she was going downstairs , she was met by her father , who came out of his library with a letter in his hand .
" Lizzy ," said he , " I was going to look for you ; come into my room ."
She followed him thither ; and her curiosity to know what he had to tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner connected with the letter he held . It suddenly struck her that it might be from Lady Catherine ; and she anticipated with dismay all the consequent explanations .
She followed her father to the fire place , and they both sat down . He then said ,
" I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me exceedingly . As it principally concerns yourself , you ought to know its contents . I did not know before , that I had two daughters on the brink of matrimony . Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest ."