Pride and Prejudice Chapter 57 Summary

Elizabeth can't help but wonder where Lady Catherine's extraordinary idea came from.
She starts to feel uneasy, wondering how far Lady Catherine would go to interfere. Could she possibly do something that would prevent any possibility of her getting together with Mr. Darcy? Would her arguments, unreasonable to Elizabeth, convince Mr. Darcy?
If Mr. Darcy makes some excuse about being unable to come back to visit Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth decides, then she will know that he was convinced to forget her.
The next morning, Mr. Bennet calls Elizabeth into his study to congratulate her on her connection to Mr. Darcy. He has received a letter from Mr. Collins, who congratulates Mr. Bennet on Jane's engagement.
Mr. Collins also warns him that Elizabeth's engagement to Mr. Darcy is not looked upon with favor by Lady Catherine and could cause problems for her.
Mr. Bennet, thinking Mr. Collins is utterly mistaken, comments that this is a great joke. Surely Mr. Darcy has never looked at any woman without seeing blemish, and definitely not at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, however, can't join him in the teasing.
Mr. Collins also blathers on about his surprise that a Christian family would welcome Lydia and Wickham into their house after their behavior. This comment doesn't go over so well with Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Bennet continues his teasing Elizabeth, since he thinks Mr. Darcy is perfectly indifferent and that Elizabeth can't stand Mr. Darcy.
He asks his daughter if Lady Catherine had mentioned the "engagement."
Elizabeth just laughs, even though she wants to cry.

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