Pride and Prejudice, a play by Mary Keith Medbery Mackaye Part 44

LADY CATHERINE.

This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist upon being satisfied. Has he--has my nephew made you an offer of marriage?

ELIZABETH.

Your Ladyship has declared it to be impossible.

LADY CATHERINE.

It ought to be so. But your arts and allurements may have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in.

ELIZABETH.

If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it.

LADY CATHERINE.

Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am Mr. Darcy's own aunt, and am ent.i.tled to know all his dearest concerns.

ELIZABETH.

But you are not ent.i.tled to know _mine_.

LADY CATHERINE.

Let me be rightly understood. This match can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you got to say?

ELIZABETH.

Only this--that if it is so, you can have no reason to suppose Mr. Darcy will make an offer to me.

LADY CATHERINE.

[_Hesitating._] The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. While in their cradles, my sister and I planned their union. Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? Do not you see that honour, decorum--nay, interest, forbid you marrying my nephew? Yes _interest_, Miss Bennet. For you will be slighted and despised by everyone connected with him!

ELIZABETH.

These are heavy misfortunes. But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness that she could have no cause to repine.

LADY CATHERINE.

[_In a rage._] Obstinate, headstrong girl! Tell me once for all--are you engaged to my nephew?

ELIZABETH.

[_Hesitates, then firmly._] I am not.

LADY CATHERINE.

[_Relieved._] And will you promise me never to enter into such an engagement?

ELIZABETH.

I will make no promise of the kind.

LADY CATHERINE.

Miss Bennet, I am shocked and astonished. I shall not go away until you have given me the a.s.surance I require.

ELIZABETH.

And I certainly never shall give it. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no further on the subject.

LADY CATHERINE.

[_In a fury, but trying to speak calmly._] Not so hasty, if you please.

I had hoped to spare you this last humiliation--but your insolence forbids it. I am no stranger to the particulars of your sister's infamous elopement. I know all! The young man's marrying her was a patched-up business at the expense of _my nephew_. [ELIZABETH _starts violently_.] Oh, you needn't start, Miss! n.o.body knows about the whole affair better than you. But I don't wonder you blush to find yourself discovered. You used your arts well. My nephew must have spent full five or six thousand pounds to save your family from disgrace. I should think that such generosity might appeal a little to your grat.i.tude and your sense of decency.

ELIZABETH.

[_Amazed._] Oh, Madam,--I----

LADY CATHERINE.

It is quite useless to protest. I have my facts from the best authority.

Heaven knows Darcy has reason enough to keep away from Wickham's flirtations and entanglements, but [_stopping herself._] that is a family affair. However, _you_ have managed to get him mixed up in them again to the extent of five thousand pounds. But that is not enough,--you want to make this shameless girl my nephew's _sister_, and the son of his father's steward his brother. Heaven and Earth! Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?

ELIZABETH.

[_Speaking with great effort._] Madam, you have insulted me in every possible manner. I must beg to return to the house. This is beyond endurance.