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Lady Catherine:
You can be of no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand why I
am here.
Elizabeth: Indeed you're mistaken. I cannot
account for
this honour at all.
Catherine: Miss Bennet, I warn you, I am not to be
trifled with. A report of a most alarming nature has reached me,
that you intend to be united with my nephew, Mr. Darcy.
I know this to be a scandalous falsehood, though not
wishing to injure him by supposing it possible, I
instantly set off to make my sentiments known.
Elizabeth: If you believed it to be impossible, I
wonder you took the trouble of coming so far.
Catherine: To hear it contradicted, Miss Bennet.
Elizabeth: Your coming will be a rather confirmation,
surely if indeed such a report exists.
Catherine: If? Do you pretend to be ignorant of it?
Has it not been industriously circulated by yourself?
Elizabeth: I have never heard of it.
Catherine: And can you declare there is no foundation
for it?
Elizabeth: I do not pretend to possess equal
frankness with your Ladyship. You may ask a question
which I may choose not to answer.
Catherine: This is not to be borne. Has my nephew
made you an offer of marriage?
Elizabeth: Your Ladyship has declared it to be
impossible.
Catherine: Let me be understood! Mr. Darcy is engaged
to my daughter. Now what have you to say?
Elizabeth: Only this. If that is the case, you can
have no reason to suppose he would make an offer to me.
Catherine: You selfish girl! This union has been
planned since their infancy. Do you think it can be
prevented by a young woman of inferior birth whose own
sister's
elopement resulted in a scandalously patched-up
marriage only achieved at the expense of your uncle?
Heaven and Earth! Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus
polluted? Now tell me
once and for all, are you engaged to him?
Elizabeth: I am not.
Catherine: Will you promise never to enter into such
an engagement?
Elizabeth: I will not and I certainly never shall.
You have insulted me in every possible way and can now
have nothing further to say. I must ask you to leave
immediately. Goodnight.
Catherine: I have never been thus treated in my
entire life!
Mr. Bennet: Lizzie, what on earth is going on?
Elizabeth: Just a small misunderstanding.
Mrs. Bennet: Lizzie?
Elizabeth: For once in your life, leave me alone! |
