pride and prejudice scene

START

that piece is quite genuine lady catherine. Is your chair comfortable?

sit here, miss bennett, where i can see you plainly. You know why I am here

No indeed, I don’t know what I have done to deserve this honor.

has your conscious not told you?

my conscience?

Miss.Bennett, I am not to be trifled with. I am celebrated for my frankness. Don’t assume those innocent airs, I’m not a man. They have no effect whatever upon me. A report has reached me that you hope to be married to my nephew, Mr.Darcy. I would not insult him by asking about the truth of this. I have come post haste from risings to let you know my exact sentiments.

What a long way to come for such a purpose, Lady catherine. Especially as I know nothing of such rumor.

Will you swear there is no foundation for it?

No, I do not pretend to be as celebrated for frankness as your ladyship. So there are certain questions I may not choose to answer. This is one of them.

How—how dare you? I insist on knowing! Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?

But your lady ship has already declared that to be impossible .

it certainly should be! But your arts may have entangled him into forgetting what he owes to his family.

Then surely I should be the last to admit it.

Miss. Bennet do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed— I am the nearest relative he has and entitled to know his dearest concerns.

Then question him. You certainly are not entitled to know mine.

This Marriage to which you have the effrontery to aspire, will never take place. Never! Now what have you to say?

If there were no other objection to my marriage with Mr.Darcy— your commands would certainly carry little weight.

Very well, If you persist. But don’t expect to be received by his family or his friends— your name will never be mentioned by any of us.

I must confess to your ladyship that this will not give me a moments concern.

Miss Bennet, I am ashmaded of you. Is this your gratitude for my hospitality?

Gratitude! But, Lady catherine, I regard hospitality as a mutual grace and by no means consider myself an object for charity.

Understand my girl, I am determined— I am not used to submitting to any persons whims, nor brooking disappointments.

That is unfortunate. It is rather late in life for your ladyship to be receiving your first taste of it—

Be silent. The idea of you wanting to marry out of your own sphere!

Oh I should not consider it so. Mr.Darcy is a gentleman— I am the daughter of one.

And pray, what was your mother? A lady? The daughter of a shop-keeper, with a brother— an attorney! You see, I am not deceived by your airs and graces.

And you lady catherine, the daughter of a peer. It’s strange how little birth seems to affect questions of taste— or— gentleness of heart.

as if you could possible know anything about such things. Answer me once and for all— are you engaged to my nephew?

I must ask you to speak in a lower key. My sister is asleep out there. No i am not engaged to him.

And you promise me you never will be?

I will not.

Then I refuse to leave until you have given me that promise.

I trust your ladyship will have a pleasant journey back to Rosings.