Chapter 14

           Duringdinner,Mr.Bennetscarcelyspokeatall; butwhentheservantswerewithdrawn,hethoughtittimetohavesomeconversationwithhisguest,andthereforestartedasubjectinwhichheexpectedhimtoshine,byobservingthatheseemedveryfortunateinhispatroness. LadyCatherinedeBourgh’sattentiontohiswishes,andconsiderationforhiscomfort,appearedveryremarkable. Mr.Bennetcouldnothavechosenbetter. Mr.Collinswaseloquentinherpraise. Thesubjectelevatedhimtomorethanusualsolemnityofmanner,andwithamostimportantaspectheprotestedthat"hehadneverinhislifewitnessedsuchbehaviourinapersonofrank—suchaffabilityandcondescension,ashehadhimselfexperiencedfromLadyCatherine. Shehadbeengraciouslypleasedtoapproveofbothofthediscourseswhichhehadalreadyhadthehonourofpreachingbeforeher. ShehadalsoaskedhimtwicetodineatRosings,andhadsentforhimonlytheSaturdaybefore,tomakeupherpoolofquadrilleintheevening. LadyCatherinewasreckonedproudbymanypeopleheknew,buthehadneverseenanythingbutaffabilityinher. Shehadalwaysspokentohimasshewouldtoanyothergentleman;shemadenotthesmallestobjectiontohisjoininginthesocietyoftheneighbourhoodnortohisleavingtheparishoccasionallyforaweekortwo,tovisithisrelations. Shehadevencondescendedtoadvisehimtomarryassoonashecould,providedhechosewithdiscretion;andhadoncepaidhimavisitinhishumbleparsonage,whereshehadperfectlyapprovedallthealterationshehadbeenmaking,andhadevenvouchsafedtosuggestsomeherself—someshelvesintheclosetupstairs." 

           "Thatisallveryproperandcivil,Iamsure,"saidMrs.Bennet,"andIdaresaysheisaveryagreeablewoman. Itisapitythatgreatladiesingeneralarenotmorelikeher. Doesshelivenearyou,sir?"