world; though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away,

they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune.{431}

CHAPTER LVI.

ONE morning, about a week after Bingley’s engagement with Jane had been

formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the

dining-room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window by the

sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the

lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors; and besides, the

equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses

were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who

preceded it, were familiar to them. As{432} it was certain, however, that

somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid

the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the

shrubbery. They both set off; and the conjectures of the remaining three

continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown

open, and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
They were of course all intending to be surprised: but their

astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs.

Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even

inferior to what Elizabeth felt.
She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no

other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the

head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her

name to her mother on her Ladyship’s entrance, though no request of

introduction had been made.
Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such

high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting

for a moment in silence, she said, very stiffly, to Elizabeth,—
“I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your

mother?”
Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.