“And that, I suppose, is one of your sisters?”
“Yes, madam,” said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to a Lady Catherine.

“She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married,

and my eldest is somewhere about the ground, walking with a young man,

who, I believe, will soon become a part of the family.{433}”
“You have a very small park here,” returned Lady Catherine, after a

short silence.
“It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my Lady, I dare say; but, I

assure you, it is much larger than Sir William Lucas’s.”
“This must be a most inconvenient sitting-room for the evening in

summer: the windows are full west.”
Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner; and then

added,—
“May I take the liberty of asking your Ladyship whether you left Mr. and

Mrs. Collins well?”
“Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last.”
Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from

Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no

letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled.
Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her Ladyship to take some

refreshment: but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely,

declined eating anything; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth,—
“Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness

on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you

will favour me with your company.”
“Go, my dear,” cried her mother, “and show her Ladyship about the

different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage.”
Elizabeth obeyed; and, running into her own room for her parasol,

attended her noble guest downstairs. As they passed through the hall,

Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and

drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be

decent-looking rooms, walked on.{434}
Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her