Volume 2: Chapter 6 Summary

The group's impending dinner at Rosings is the only topic of conversation for the next twenty-four hours. Mr. Collins is busy instructing them how to dress, how to behave, and what to expect, and Maria and Sir Lucas are nervous at the prospect of being introduced to such an important personage. Elizabeth is better able to keep her composure, and after a formal introduction is made, studies the women objectively. Lady Catherine is large and haughty, and Elizabeth thinks to herself that she is exactly how Mr. Wickham had described her. Miss. De Bourgh is even smaller and sicklier looking than she appeared the first time Elizabeth had seen her.

Dinner is exquisite, but for Elizabeth the company is hard to bear. Mr. Collins compliments Lady Catherine on everything, and Sir William and Maria are too scared to say a word...