第79章[第1页/共3页]

Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as her future niece;nor could she think,without a smile, of what her ladyship's indignation would have been.“What would she have said?how would she have behaved?”were questions with which she amused herself.

“But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return.”

“My uncle is to send a servant for us.”

“I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation,”replied Elizabeth,“but it is not in my power to accept it.I must be in town next Saturday.”

“But if that is the case,you must write to your mother and beg that you may stay a little longer.Mrs.Collins will be very glad of your company,I am sure.”

The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning, and Mr. Collins having been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected,after the melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings.To Rosings he then hastened, to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her.