After Lady Catherine left, Elizabeth was very upset and confused. She could not stop thinking about the visit for many hours. It was hard to believe that Lady Catherine had traveled all the way from Rosings just to stop Elizabeth from marrying Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth wondered how the rumor of their engagement had even started. Then, she remembered that Mr. Bingley was Darcy’s best friend and Jane was Elizabeth’s sister. Since Jane and Bingley were getting married, people expected another wedding to follow. Her neighbors, the Lucases, must have sent the news to Mr. Collins, who then told Lady Catherine.
However, Elizabeth felt uneasy. She was worried about what Mr. Darcy would do when he found out. Lady Catherine was his aunt, and he might care about her opinion. Darcy was a proud man. If he was already unsure about Elizabeth because of her family, his aunt’s arguments might finally convince him to stay away.
"If he sends an excuse to Bingley and does not come back to Netherfield," Elizabeth thought, "I will know why. I will stop hoping. If he cares more about his pride than his love for me, I will try to forget him."
The next morning, Elizabeth met her father. He was coming out of his library with a letter.
"Lizzy," he said, "I was looking for you. Come inside."
Elizabeth followed him, feeling nervous. She was afraid the letter was from Lady Catherine. Her father sat down and smiled.
"I received a letter this morning that surprised me," Mr. Bennet said. "I didn't know I had two daughters about to get married! Congratulations, Lizzy."
Elizabeth turned red. She thought the letter was from Mr. Darcy. But her father continued, "This letter is from Mr. Collins."
"From Mr. Collins? What does he want?"
"He writes to congratulate us on Jane’s wedding," Mr. Bennet said. "But he also mentions a rumor about you. He says that you will soon marry a very rich and important man. Can you guess who he means? He says this man is Mr. Darcy!"
Mr. Bennet laughed loudly. "Mr. Darcy! The man who never likes anyone and who you can’t stand! It is a wonderful joke, isn't it? Mr. Collins even warns you not to marry him because Lady Catherine does not approve."
Elizabeth tried to smile, but she felt terrible. Her father thought the idea was impossible because he believed Darcy was indifferent and Elizabeth hated him.
"Aren’t you amused, Lizzy?" her father asked.
"Oh, yes. It is very strange," she replied.
"It is perfectly absurd!" Mr. Bennet said. "Mr. Darcy, who only looks at women to find their faults, and you, who hate him so much! I love Mr. Collins’s letters. He is so much more fun than any of my other relatives."
Elizabeth wanted to cry, but she forced herself to laugh. She realized her father had no idea how her feelings had changed.