第133章[第1頁/共5頁]

The colour now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous conviction of its being a letter from the nephew,instead of the aunt;and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained himself at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to herself;when her father continued:

“You look conscious.Young ladies have great penetration in such matters as these;but I think I may defy even your sagacity, to discover the name of your admirer.This letter is from Mr. Collins.”

“If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his friend within a few days,”she added,“I shall know how to understand it. I shall then give over every expectation, every wish of his constancy.If he is satisfied with only regretting me,when he might have obtained my affections and hand,I shall soon cease to regret him at all.”

The next morning,as she was going downstairs,she was met by her father,who came out of his library with a letter in his hand.

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.