Chapter 21
“Your cousin is a prettyish sort of girl,” Lady Catherine pronounced. She had condescended to invite the whole party from the parsonage to dine on their second night in Kent. Elizabeth did not respond to the compliment, as it had not been addressed to her. It had been made to Mr Collins.
She asked her at different times how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mother’s maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions but answered them very composedly. Lady Catherine then observed, —
Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?”
“Yes, ma’am, all.”
“All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The younger ones out before the elder are married! Your younger sisters must be very young?”
“Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhapssheis full young to be much in company.”
“Pray, what is your age?” Lady Catherine demanded.
“With three younger sisters grown up,” replied Elizabeth, smiling, “your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.”
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the firstcreature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence.
“You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, —therefore you need not conceal your age.”
“I am not one-and-twenty.”
“And no offers of marriage,” she replied shaking her head.
“Your father’s estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think? For your sake,” turning to Charlotte, “I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s family. I had instructed Mr Collins to marry one of his cousins and keep the estate in the family,” she told Elizabeth. “But I understand that your father would not condone any offers while he was staying with your family,” she said shaking her head. Elizabeth blushed deeply at this rudeness to her dear Charlotte. “Well I did my best but if that was your father choice, I could not overrule him.”
Thankfully, Lady Catherine did not continue with her speculations on her father’s decision. Nor the discussions in relation to the Longbourn entail. She and Charlotte had never mentioned, even to each other what her father had revealed to them. And they made no eye contact now, nor gave any indication of knowing anything of difference in relation to the entail.
The evening ended with Lady Catherine informing them that there was to be an addition to the part at Rosing. Namely her nephews, Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Mr Collins intoned on what a treat for Elizabeth to meet with the mighty Mr Darcy again. And indeed to be introduced to Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of the Earl of Matlock. He expressed what joy she would have in telling all her sister of making such a high connection. Charlotte remained silentto this pronouncement, even as she was aware that the Bennet girls had all been introduced to the Prince Regent.
