Chapter 57

           ThediscomposureofspiritswhichthisextraordinaryvisitthrewElizabethinto,couldnotbeeasilyovercome;norcouldshe,formanyhours,learntothinkofitlessthanincessantly. LadyCatherine,itappeared,hadactuallytakenthetroubleofthisjourneyfromRosings,forthesolepurposeofbreakingoffhersupposedengagementwithMr.Darcy. Itwasarationalscheme,tobesure! butfromwhatthereportoftheirengagementcouldoriginate,Elizabethwasatalosstoimagine;tillsherecollectedthathisbeingtheintimatefriendofBingley,andherbeingthesisterofJane,wasenough,atatimewhentheexpectationofoneweddingmadeeverybodyeagerforanother,tosupplytheidea. Shehadnotherselfforgottentofeelthatthemarriageofhersistermustbringthemmorefrequentlytogether. AndherneighboursatLucasLodge,therefore(forthroughtheircommunicationwiththeCollinses,thereport,sheconcluded,hadreachedladyCatherine),hadonlysetthatdownasalmostcertainandimmediate,whichshehadlookedforwardtoaspossibleatsomefuturetime. 

           InrevolvingLadyCatherine’sexpressions,however,shecouldnothelpfeelingsomeuneasinessastothepossibleconsequenceofherpersistinginthisinterference. Fromwhatshehadsaidofherresolutiontopreventtheirmarriage,itoccurredtoElizabeththatshemustmeditateanapplicationtohernephew; andhowhemighttakeasimilarrepresentationoftheevilsattachedtoaconnectionwithher,shedarednotpronounce. Sheknewnottheexactdegreeofhisaffectionforhisaunt,orhisdependenceonherjudgment,butitwasnaturaltosupposethathethoughtmuchhigherofherladyshipthanshecoulddo; anditwascertainthat,inenumeratingthemiseriesofamarriagewithone,whoseimmediateconnectionsweresounequaltohisown,hisauntwouldaddresshimonhisweakestside.