was all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit would

pass, the quiet tenour of their usual employments, the vexatious

interruptions of{198} Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their intercourse

with Rosings. A lively imagination soon settled it all.
About the middle of the next day, as she was in her room getting ready

for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in

confusion; and, after listening a moment, she heard somebody running

upstairs in a violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened

the door, and met Maria in the landing-place, who, breathless with

agitation, cried out,—

[Image unavailable.]

“In Conversation with the ladies”
[Copyright 1894 by George Allen.]

“Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining-room, for

there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is. Make

haste, and come down this moment.{199}”
Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing more;

and down they ran into the dining-room which fronted the lane, in quest

of this wonder; it was two ladies, stopping in a low phaeton at the

garden gate.
“And is this all?” cried Elizabeth. “I expected at least that the pigs

were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her

daughter!”
“La! my dear,” said Maria, quite shocked at the mistake, “it is not Lady

Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them. The

other is Miss De Bourgh. Only look at her. She is quite a little

creature. Who would have thought she could be so thin and small!”
“She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind.

Why does she not come in?”
“Oh, Charlotte says she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of favours

when Miss De Bourgh comes in.”
“I like her appearance,” said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. “She

looks sickly and cross. Yes, she will do for him very well. She will

make him a very proper wife.”