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“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.”

“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.”

“Lizzy,”said he,“I was going to look for you; come into my room.”

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.