Pagina 330 di 817

"Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the

dining-room, for there is such a sight to be seen! I will not

tell you what it is. Make haste, and come down this moment."

Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing

more; and down they ran into the dining-room which fronted the

lane, in quest of this wonder; it was two ladies, stopping in a

low phaeton at the garden gate.

"And is this all?" cried Elizabeth. "I expected at least that the

pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady

Catherine and her daughter!"

"La! my dear," said Maria, quite shocked at the mistake, "it is

not Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives

with them. The other is Miss De Bourgh. Only look at her. She is

quite a little creature. Who would have thought she could be so

thin and small!"

"She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all

this wind. Why does she not come in?"