Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of her acquaintances whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Catherine, who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself.
Elizabeth már röviddel megérkezése után hallotta, hogy néhány hét múlva várják Darcyt, s kevés olyan embert ismert, akit nem látott volna szívesebben, mégis azt gondolta, legalább lesz egy aránylag új arc a rosingsi összejöveteleken; mulatságos lesz majd azt is megfigyelni, hogyan viselkedik Darcy unokahúga iránt, mert ez megmutatja, mennyire reménytelen Miss Bingley mesterkedése. Lady Catherine nyilvánvalóan Darcyt szemelte ki vejéül, mert a legnagyobb örömmel beszélt a jöveteléről, nem győzött elég dicsérően nyilatkozni személyéről, s szinte haragudott, amikor megtudta, hogy Miss Lucas és Elizabeth már gyakran találkoztak vele.