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The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing who their

visitor had been, was very great: but they obligingly satisfied

it with the same kind of supposition which had appeased Mrs.

Bennet's curiosity; and Elizabeth was spared from much teasing on

the subject.

The next morning, as she was going down stairs, she was met by

her father, who came out of his library with a letter in his

hand.

"Lizzy," said he, "I was going to look for you: come into my

room."

She followed him thither; and her curiosity to know what he had

to tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in

some manner connected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck

her that it might be from Lady Catherine, and she anticipated

with dismay all the consequent explanations.

She followed her father to the fireplace, and they both sat down.

He then said,--