Chapter 56

           Onemorning,aboutaweekafterBingley’sengagementwithJanehadbeenformed,asheandthefemalesofthefamilyweresittingtogetherinthedining-room,theirattentionwassuddenlydrawntothewindow,bythesoundofacarriage;andtheyperceivedachaiseandfourdrivingupthelawn. Itwastooearlyinthemorningforvisitors,andbesides,theequipagedidnotanswertothatofanyoftheirneighbours. Thehorseswerepost;andneitherthecarriage,northeliveryoftheservantwhoprecededit,werefamiliartothem. Asitwascertain,however,thatsomebodywascoming,BingleyinstantlyprevailedonMissBennettoavoidtheconfinementofsuchanintrusion,andwalkawaywithhimintotheshrubbery. Theybothsetoff,andtheconjecturesoftheremainingthreecontinued,thoughwithlittlesatisfaction,tillthedoorwasthrownopenandtheirvisitorentered.ItwasLadyCatherinedeBourgh. 

           Theywereofcourseallintendingtobesurprised;buttheirastonishmentwasbeyondtheirexpectation; andonthepartofMrs.BennetandKitty,thoughshewasperfectlyunknowntothem,eveninferiortowhatElizabethfelt. 

           Sheenteredtheroomwithanairmorethanusuallyungracious,madenootherreplytoElizabeth’ssalutationthanaslightinclinationofthehead,andsatdownwithoutsayingaword. Elizabethhadmentionedhernametohermotheronherladyship’sentrance,thoughnorequestofintroductionhadbeenmade. 

           Mrs.Bennet,allamazement,thoughflatteredbyhavingaguestofsuchhighimportance,receivedherwiththeutmostpoliteness. Aftersittingforamomentinsilence,shesaidverystifflytoElizabeth, 

           "Ihopeyouarewell,MissBennet. Thatlady,Isuppose,isyourmother." 

           Elizabethrepliedveryconciselythatshewas.