第132章[第2页/共4页]

“It is well.You refuse,then,to oblige me.You refuse to obey the claims of duty,honour,and gratitude.You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends,and make him the contempt of the world.”

“And will you promise me,never to enter into such an engagement?”

In this manner Lady Catherine talked on,till they were at the door of the carriage,when,turning hastily round,she added,

“You can now have nothing further to say,”she resentfully answered.“You have insulted me in every possible method.I must beg to return to the house.”

“And this is your real opinion!This is your final resolve!Very well.I shall now know how to act.Do not imagine,Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable;but,depend upon it,I will carry my point.”

“Not so hasty,if you please.I have by no means done.To all the objections I have already urged,I have still another to add.I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister's infamous elopement.I know it all;that the young man's marrying her was a patched-up business,at the expence of your father and uncles. And is such a girl to be my nephew's sister?Is her husband,is the son of his late father's steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth!―of what are you thinking?Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”