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Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct

answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature

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."

When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card

tables were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs.

Collins sat down to quadrille; and as Miss De Bourgh chose to

play at cassino, the two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs.

Jenkinson to make up her party. Their table was superlatively

stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did not relate to

the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of Miss

De Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or having too much or too

little light. A great deal more passed at the other table. Lady

Catherine was generally speaking--stating the mistakes of the

three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins

was employed in agreeing to everything her Ladyship said,

thanking her for every fish he won, and apologizing if he thought

he won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his

memory with anecdotes and noble names.