第132章[第2页/共4页]

“You are then resolved to have him?”

“And will you promise me,never to enter into such an engagement?”

“I will make no promise of the kind.”

“I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner,which will,in my own opinion,constitute my happiness, without reference to you,or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.”

Elizabeth made no answer;and without attempting to persuade her ladyship to return into the house,walked quietly into it herself. She heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded up stairs.Her mother impatiently met her at the door of the dressing-room,to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and rest herself.

“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 me,would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin?Allow me to say,Lady Catherine,that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged.You have widely mistaken my character,if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these.How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine.I must beg,therefore,to be importuned no farther on the subject.”