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.