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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 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 . “ 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 . ” “ 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 . ”
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