第133章[第3页/共4页]

“I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me exceedingly.As it principally concerns yourself,you ought to know its contents. I did not know before, that I had two daughters on the brink of matrimony. Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest.”

She followed him thither; and her curiosity to know what he had to tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner connected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it might be from Lady Catherine; and she anticipated with dismay all the consequent explanations.

“You look conscious.Young ladies have great penetration in such matters as these;but I think I may defy even your sagacity, to discover the name of your admirer.This letter is from Mr. Collins.”

“From Mr.Collins!and what can he have to say?”

The next morning,as she was going downstairs,she was met by her father,who came out of his library with a letter in his hand.

She followed her father to the fire place, and they both sat down.He then said,

If he had been wavering before as to what he should do,which had often seemed likely, the advice and entreaty of so near a relation might settle every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity unblemished could make him.In that case he would return no more.Lady Catherine might see him in her way through town;and his engagement to Bingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way.