“I will not be interrupted! Hear me in silence. My daughter and my

nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal

side, from the same noble line; and, on the father’s, from respectable,

honourable, and ancient, though untitled, families. Their fortune on

both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of

every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide

them?—the upstart pretensions of a young woman without family,

connections, or fortune! Is this to be endured? But it must not, shall

not be! If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to

quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.”
“In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that

sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter; so far we are

equal.”
“True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But what was your mother? Who

are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their

condition.{439}”
“Whatever my connections may be,” said Elizabeth, “if your nephew does

not object to them, they can be nothing to you.”
“Tell me, once for all, are you engaged to him?”
Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady

Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a

moment’s deliberation,—
“I am not.”
Lady Catherine seemed pleased.
“And will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement?”
“I will make no promise of the kind.”
“Miss Bennet, I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more

reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I

will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the

assurance I require.”
“And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into

anything so wholly unreasonable. Your Ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry

your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make

their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to