Sir William bowed low to Lady Catherine and, kissing her hand in the continental stile, replied, “Enchanteé.”

Sir William, Her Ladyship was to learn, was known to Anne’s friend, Arabella, who was also then resident in Bath. Miss Arabella Randolph had been at Mrs. Heywood’s Academy with Anne. At the request of her mother, Lady Randolph, Arabella was obliged to renew the acquaintance with Miss de Bourgh formed at school. Lady Randolph viewed the latter’s family connections and fortune with a keener eye than her daughter, and so wished to encourage any friendship with those in possession of a greater share of both. Out of duty to her mother, Arabella was presently spending frequent, insipid afternoons in the company of Miss de Bourgh, although justice would demand the further explanation that Anne de Bourgh was certainly better company when she was not under the oppressive influence of her mother.

Sir William happened to drive past the two fashionably and expensively dressed young ladies in his curricle as they made their way along Milsom Street, and had, in his own description, “with every hour since he had known there was such a creature, been waiting with the greatest impatience to secure the honour of an introduction to Miss de Bourgh.” Miss Randolph was neither so desperate nor so designing as to deprive him of an introduction to Miss de Bourgh, and the two ladies were, from that hour, more liable than not to meet Sir William during the course of the afternoon.