Elizabeth, astheydrovealong, watchedforthefirstappearanceofPemberleyWoodswithsomeperturbation; andwhenatlengththeyturnedinatthelodge, herspiritswerein a highflutter.
1
Theparkwasverylarge, andcontainedgreatvarietyofground. Theyentereditinoneofitslowestpoints, anddroveforsometimethrough a beautifulwoodstretchingover a wideextent.
2
Elizabeth's mindwastoofullforconversation, butshesawandadmiredeveryremarkablespotandpointofview. Theygraduallyascendedforhalf-a-mile, andthenfoundthemselvesatthetopof a considerableeminence, wherethewoodceased, andtheeyewasinstantlycaughtbyPemberleyHouse, situatedontheoppositesideof a valley, intowhichtheroadwithsomeabruptnesswound. Itwas a large, handsomestonebuilding, standingwellonrisingground, andbackedby a ridgeofhighwoodyhills; andinfront, a streamofsomenaturalimportancewasswelledintogreater, butwithoutanyartificialappearance. Itsbankswereneitherformalnorfalselyadorned. Elizabethwasdelighted. Shehadneverseen a placeforwhichnaturehaddonemore, orwherenaturalbeautyhadbeensolittlecounteractedbyanawkwardtaste. Theywereallofthemwarmintheiradmiration; andatthatmomentshefeltthattobemistressofPemberleymightbesomething!
Thehousekeepercame; a respectable-lookingelderlywoman, muchlessfine, andmorecivil, thanshehadanynotionoffindingher. Theyfollowedherintothedining-parlour. Itwas a large, wellproportionedroom, handsomelyfittedup. Elizabeth, afterslightlysurveyingit, wentto a windowtoenjoyitsprospect. Thehill, crownedwithwood, whichtheyhaddescended, receivingincreasedabruptnessfromthedistance, was a beautifulobject. Everydispositionofthegroundwasgood; andshelookedonthewholescene, theriver, thetreesscatteredonitsbanksandthewindingofthevalley, asfarasshecouldtraceit, withdelight. Astheypassedintootherroomstheseobjectsweretakingdifferentpositions; butfromeverywindowtherewerebeautiestobeseen. Theroomswereloftyandhandsome, andtheirfurnituresuitabletothefortuneofitsproprietor; butElizabethsaw, withadmirationofhistaste, thatitwasneithergaudynoruselesslyfine; withlessofsplendour, andmorerealelegance, thanthefurnitureofRosings.
5
"Andofthisplace," thoughtshe, "I mighthavebeenmistress! Withtheserooms I mightnowhavebeenfamiliarlyacquainted! Insteadofviewingthemas a stranger, I mighthaverejoicedinthemasmyown, andwelcomedtothemasvisitorsmyuncleandaunt. Butno,"—recollectingherself—"thatcouldneverbe; myuncleandauntwouldhavebeenlosttome; I shouldnothavebeenallowedtoinvitethem."
6
Thiswas a luckyrecollection—itsavedherfromsomethingverylikeregret.
7
Shelongedtoinquireofthehousekeeperwhetherhermasterwasreallyabsent, buthadnotthecourageforit. Atlengthhowever, thequestionwasaskedbyheruncle; andsheturnedawaywithalarm, whileMrs. Reynoldsrepliedthathewas, adding, "Butweexpecthimto-morrow, with a largepartyoffriends." HowrejoicedwasElizabeththattheirownjourneyhadnotbyanycircumstancebeendelayed a day!
8
Herauntnowcalledhertolookat a picture. SheapproachedandsawthelikenessofMr. Wickham, suspended, amongstseveralotherminiatures, overthemantelpiece. Herauntaskedher, smilingly, howshelikedit. Thehousekeepercameforward, andtoldthemitwas a pictureof a younggentleman, thesonofherlatemaster's steward, whohadbeenbroughtupbyhimathisownexpense. "Heisnowgoneintothearmy," sheadded; "but I amafraidhehasturnedoutverywild."
9
Mrs. Gardinerlookedatherniecewith a smile, butElizabethcouldnotreturnit.
"Anddonotyouthinkhim a veryhandsomegentleman, ma'am?"
16
"Yes, veryhandsome."
17
"I amsure I knownonesohandsome; butinthegalleryupstairsyouwillsee a finer, largerpictureofhimthanthis. Thisroomwasmylatemaster's favouriteroom, andtheseminiaturesarejustastheyusedtobethen. Hewasveryfondofthem."
"Yes, sir; but I donotknowwhenthatwillbe. I donotknowwhoisgoodenoughforhim."
28
Mr. andMrs. Gardinersmiled. Elizabethcouldnothelpsaying, "Itisverymuchtohiscredit, I amsure, thatyoushouldthinkso."
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"I saynomorethanthetruth, andeverybodywillsaythatknowshim," repliedtheother. Elizabeththoughtthiswasgoingprettyfar; andshelistenedwithincreasingastonishmentasthehousekeeperadded, "I haveneverknown a crosswordfromhiminmylife, and I haveknownhimeversincehewasfouryearsold."
30
Thiswaspraise, ofallothersmostextraordinary, mostoppositetoherideas. Thathewasnot a good-temperedmanhadbeenherfirmestopinion. Herkeenestattentionwasawakened; shelongedtohearmore, andwasgratefultoheruncleforsaying:
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"Thereareveryfewpeopleofwhomsomuchcanbesaid. Youareluckyinhavingsuch a master."
32
"Yes, sir, I know I am. If I weretogothroughtheworld, I couldnotmeetwith a better. But I havealwaysobserved, thattheywhoaregood-naturedwhenchildren, aregood-naturedwhentheygrowup; andhewasalwaysthesweetest-tempered, mostgenerous-heartedboyintheworld."
"Heisthebestlandlord, andthebestmaster," saidshe, "thateverlived; notlikethewildyoungmennowadays, whothinkofnothingbutthemselves. Thereisnotoneofhistenantsorservantsbutwillgivehim a goodname. Somepeoplecallhimproud; but I amsure I neversawanythingofit. Tomyfancy, itisonlybecausehedoesnotrattleawaylikeotheryoungmen."
Onreachingthespaciouslobbyabovetheywereshowninto a veryprettysitting-room, latelyfittedupwithgreatereleganceandlightnessthantheapartmentsbelow; andwereinformedthatitwasbutjustdonetogivepleasuretoMissDarcy, whohadtaken a likingtotheroomwhenlastatPemberley.
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"Heiscertainly a goodbrother," saidElizabeth, asshewalkedtowardsoneofthewindows.
44
Mrs. ReynoldsanticipatedMissDarcy's delight, whensheshouldentertheroom. "Andthisisalwaysthewaywithhim," sheadded. "Whatevercangivehissisteranypleasureissuretobedonein a moment. Thereisnothinghewouldnotdoforher."
Inthegallerythereweremanyfamilyportraits, buttheycouldhavelittletofixtheattentionof a stranger. Elizabethwalkedinquestoftheonlyfacewhosefeatureswouldbeknowntoher. Atlastitarrestedher—andshebeheld a strikingresemblancetoMr. Darcy, withsuch a smileoverthefaceassherememberedtohavesometimesseenwhenhelookedather. Shestoodseveralminutesbeforethepicture, inearnestcontemplation, andreturnedtoitagainbeforetheyquittedthegallery. Mrs. Reynoldsinformedthemthatithadbeentakeninhisfather's lifetime.
47
Therewascertainlyatthismoment, inElizabeth's mind, a moregentlesensationtowardstheoriginalthanshehadeverfeltattheheightoftheiracquaintance. ThecommendationbestowedonhimbyMrs. Reynoldswasofnotriflingnature. Whatpraiseismorevaluablethanthepraiseofanintelligentservant? As a brother, a landlord, a master, sheconsideredhowmanypeople's happinesswereinhisguardianship!—howmuchofpleasureorpainwasitinhispowertobestow!—howmuchofgoodorevilmustbedonebyhim! Everyideathathadbeenbroughtforwardbythehousekeeperwasfavourabletohischaracter, andasshestoodbeforethecanvasonwhichhewasrepresented, andfixedhiseyesuponherself, shethoughtofhisregardwith a deepersentimentofgratitudethanithadeverraisedbefore; sheremembereditswarmth, andsofteneditsimproprietyofexpression.
Atlengtheveryideaseemedtofailhim; and, afterstanding a fewmomentswithoutsaying a word, hesuddenlyrecollectedhimself, andtookleave.
53
Theothersthenjoinedher, andexpressedadmirationofhisfigure; butElizabethheardnot a word, andwhollyengrossedbyherownfeelings, followedtheminsilence. Shewasoverpoweredbyshameandvexation. Hercomingtherewasthemostunfortunate, themostill-judgedthingintheworld! Howstrangeitmustappeartohim! Inwhat a disgracefullightmightitnotstrikesovain a man! Itmightseemasifshehadpurposelythrownherselfinhiswayagain! Oh! whydidshecome? Or, whydidhethuscome a daybeforehewasexpected? Hadtheybeenonlytenminutessooner, theyshouldhavebeenbeyondthereachofhisdiscrimination; foritwasplainthathewasthatmomentarrived—thatmomentalightedfromhishorseorhiscarriage. Sheblushedagainandagainovertheperversenessofthemeeting. Andhisbehaviour, sostrikinglyaltered—whatcoulditmean? Thatheshouldevenspeaktoherwasamazing!—buttospeakwithsuchcivility, toinquireafterherfamily! Neverinherlifehadsheseenhismannerssolittledignified, neverhadhespokenwithsuchgentlenessasonthisunexpectedmeeting. What a contrastdiditoffertohislastaddressinRosingsPark, whenheputhisletterintoherhand! Sheknewnotwhattothink, orhowtoaccountforit.
54
Theyhadnowentered a beautifulwalkbythesideofthewater, andeverystepwasbringingforward a noblerfallofground, or a finerreachofthewoodstowhichtheywereapproaching; butitwassometimebeforeElizabethwassensibleofanyofit; and, thoughsheansweredmechanicallytotherepeatedappealsofheruncleandaunt, andseemedtodirecthereyestosuchobjectsastheypointedout, shedistinguishednopartofthescene. HerthoughtswereallfixedonthatonespotofPemberleyHouse, whicheveritmightbe, whereMr. Darcythenwas. Shelongedtoknowwhatatthemomentwaspassinginhismind—inwhatmannerhethoughtofher, andwhether, indefianceofeverything, shewasstilldeartohim. Perhapshehadbeencivilonlybecausehefelthimselfatease; yettherehadbeenthatinhisvoicewhichwasnotlikeease. Whetherhehadfeltmoreofpainorofpleasureinseeinghershecouldnottell, buthecertainlyhadnotseenherwithcomposure.
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Atlength, however, theremarksofhercompanionsonherabsenceofmindarousedher, andshefeltthenecessityofappearingmorelikeherself.
56
Theyenteredthewoods, andbiddingadieutotheriverfor a while, ascendedsomeofthehighergrounds; when, inspotswheretheopeningofthetreesgavetheeyepowertowander, weremanycharmingviewsofthevalley, theoppositehills, withthelongrangeofwoodsoverspreadingmany, andoccasionallypartofthestream. Mr. Gardinerexpressed a wishofgoingroundthewholepark, butfeareditmightbebeyond a walk. With a triumphantsmiletheyweretoldthatitwastenmilesround. Itsettledthematter; andtheypursuedtheaccustomedcircuit; whichbroughtthemagain, aftersometime, in a descentamonghangingwoods, totheedgeofthewater, andoneofitsnarrowestparts. Theycrosseditby a simplebridge, incharacterwiththegeneralairofthescene; itwas a spotlessadornedthananytheyhadyetvisited; andthevalley, herecontractedinto a glen, allowedroomonlyforthestream, and a narrowwalkamidsttheroughcoppice-woodwhichborderedit. Elizabethlongedtoexploreitswindings; butwhentheyhadcrossedthebridge, andperceivedtheirdistancefromthehouse, Mrs. Gardiner, whowasnot a greatwalker, couldgonofarther, andthoughtonlyofreturningtothecarriageasquicklyaspossible. Herniecewas, therefore, obligedtosubmit, andtheytooktheirwaytowardsthehouseontheoppositesideoftheriver, inthenearestdirection; buttheirprogresswasslow, forMr. Gardiner, thoughseldomabletoindulgethetaste, wasveryfondoffishing, andwassomuchengagedinwatchingtheoccasionalappearanceofsometroutinthewater, andtalkingtothemanaboutthem, thatheadvancedbutlittle. Whilstwanderingoninthisslowmanner, theywereagainsurprised, andElizabeth's astonishmentwasquiteequaltowhatithadbeenatfirst, bythesightofMr. Darcyapproachingthem, andatnogreatdistance. Thewalkherebeingherelessshelteredthanontheotherside, allowedthemtoseehimbeforetheymet. Elizabeth, howeverastonished, wasatleastmorepreparedforaninterviewthanbefore, andresolvedtoappearandtospeakwithcalmness, ifhereallyintendedtomeetthem. For a fewmoments, indeed, shefeltthathewouldprobablystrikeintosomeotherpath. Theidealastedwhile a turninginthewalkconcealedhimfromtheirview; theturningpast, hewasimmediatelybeforethem. With a glance, shesawthathehadlostnoneofhisrecentcivility; and, toimitatehispoliteness, shebegan, astheymet, toadmirethebeautyoftheplace; butshehadnotgotbeyondthewords "delightful," and "charming," whensomeunluckyrecollectionsobtruded, andshefanciedthatpraiseofPemberleyfromhermightbemischievouslyconstrued. Hercolourchanged, andshesaidnomore.
57
Mrs. Gardinerwasstanding a littlebehind; andonherpausing, heaskedherifshewoulddohimthehonourofintroducinghimtoherfriends. Thiswas a strokeofcivilityforwhichshewasquiteunprepared; andshecouldhardlysuppress a smileathisbeingnowseekingtheacquaintanceofsomeofthoseverypeopleagainstwhomhispridehadrevoltedinhisoffertoherself. "Whatwillbehissurprise," thoughtshe, "whenheknowswhotheyare? Hetakesthemnowforpeopleoffashion."
58
Theintroduction, however, wasimmediatelymade; andasshenamedtheirrelationshiptoherself, shestole a slylookathim, toseehowheboreit, andwasnotwithouttheexpectationofhisdecampingasfastashecouldfromsuchdisgracefulcompanions. Thathewassurprisedbytheconnectionwasevident; hesustainedit, however, withfortitude, andsofarfromgoingaway, turnedbackwiththem, andenteredintoconversationwithMr. Gardiner. Elizabethcouldnotbutbepleased, couldnotbuttriumph. Itwasconsolingthatheshouldknowshehadsomerelationsforwhomtherewasnoneedtoblush. Shelistenedmostattentivelytoallthatpassedbetweenthem, andgloriedineveryexpression, everysentenceofheruncle, whichmarkedhisintelligence, histaste, orhisgoodmanners.
59
Theconversationsoonturneduponfishing; andsheheardMr. Darcyinvitehim, withthegreatestcivility, tofishthereasoftenashechosewhilehecontinuedintheneighbourhood, offeringatthesametimetosupplyhimwithfishingtackle, andpointingoutthosepartsofthestreamwheretherewasusuallymostsport. Mrs. Gardiner, whowaswalkingarm-in-armwithElizabeth, gaveher a lookexpressiveofwonder. Elizabethsaidnothing, butitgratifiedherexceedingly; thecomplimentmustbeallforherself. Herastonishment, however, wasextreme, andcontinuallywassherepeating, "Whyishesoaltered? Fromwhatcanitproceed? Itcannotbeforme—itcannotbeformysakethathismannersarethussoftened. MyreproofsatHunsfordcouldnotworksuch a changeasthis. Itisimpossiblethatheshouldstillloveme."
60
Afterwalkingsometimeinthisway, thetwoladiesinfront, thetwogentlemenbehind, onresumingtheirplaces, afterdescendingtothebrinkoftheriverforthebetterinspectionofsomecuriouswater-plant, therechancedtobe a littlealteration. ItoriginatedinMrs. Gardiner, who, fatiguedbytheexerciseofthemorning, foundElizabeth's arminadequatetohersupport, andconsequentlypreferredherhusband's. Mr. Darcytookherplacebyherniece, andtheywalkedontogether. After a shortsilence, theladyfirstspoke. Shewishedhimtoknowthatshehadbeenassuredofhisabsencebeforeshecametotheplace, andaccordinglybeganbyobserving, thathisarrivalhadbeenveryunexpected—"foryourhousekeeper," sheadded, "informedusthatyouwouldcertainlynotbeheretillto-morrow; andindeed, beforeweleftBakewell, weunderstoodthatyouwerenotimmediatelyexpectedinthecountry." Heacknowledgedthetruthofitall, andsaidthatbusinesswithhisstewardhadoccasionedhiscomingforward a fewhoursbeforetherestofthepartywithwhomhehadbeentravelling. "Theywilljoinmeearlyto-morrow," hecontinued, "andamongthemaresomewhowillclaimanacquaintancewithyou—Mr. Bingleyandhissisters."
61
Elizabethansweredonlyby a slightbow. HerthoughtswereinstantlydrivenbacktothetimewhenMr. Bingley's namehadbeenthelastmentionedbetweenthem; and, ifshemightjudgebyhiscomplexion, hismindwasnotverydifferentlyengaged.
62
"Thereisalsooneotherpersonintheparty," hecontinuedafter a pause, "whomoreparticularlywishestobeknowntoyou. Willyouallowme, ordo I asktoomuch, tointroducemysistertoyouracquaintanceduringyourstayatLambton?"
Theynowwalkedoninsilence, eachofthemdeepinthought. Elizabethwasnotcomfortable; thatwasimpossible; butshewasflatteredandpleased. Hiswishofintroducinghissistertoherwas a complimentofthehighestkind. Theysoonoutstrippedtheothers, andwhentheyhadreachedthecarriage, Mr. andMrs. Gardinerwerehalf a quarterof a milebehind.
"Thereissomething a littlestatelyinhim, tobesure," repliedheraunt, "butitisconfinedtohisair, andisnotunbecoming. I cannowsaywiththehousekeeper, thatthoughsomepeoplemaycallhimproud, I haveseennothingofit."
68
"I wasnevermoresurprisedthanbyhisbehaviourtous. Itwasmorethancivil; itwasreallyattentive; andtherewasnonecessityforsuchattention. HisacquaintancewithElizabethwasverytrifling."
"Butperhapshemaybe a littlewhimsicalinhiscivilities," repliedheruncle. "Yourgreatmenoftenare; andtherefore I shallnottakehimathisword, ashemightchangehismindanotherday, andwarnmeoffhisgrounds."
"Fromwhatwehaveseenofhim," continuedMrs. Gardiner, "I reallyshouldnothavethoughtthathecouldhavebehavedinsocruel a waybyanybodyashehasdonebypoorWickham. Hehasnotanill-naturedlook. Onthecontrary, thereissomethingpleasingabouthismouthwhenhespeaks. Andthereissomethingofdignityinhiscountenancethatwouldnotgiveoneanunfavourableideaofhisheart. But, tobesure, thegoodladywhoshowedushishousedidgivehim a mostflamingcharacter! I couldhardlyhelplaughingaloudsometimes. Butheis a liberalmaster, I suppose, andthatintheeyeof a servantcomprehendseveryvirtue."
74
ElizabethherefeltherselfcalledontosaysomethinginvindicationofhisbehaviourtoWickham; andthereforegavethemtounderstand, inasguarded a mannerasshecould, thatbywhatshehadheardfromhisrelationsinKent, hisactionswerecapableof a verydifferentconstruction; andthathischaracterwasbynomeanssofaulty, norWickham's soamiable, astheyhadbeenconsideredinHertfordshire. Inconfirmationofthis, sherelatedtheparticularsofallthepecuniarytransactionsinwhichtheyhadbeenconnected, withoutactuallynamingherauthority, butstatingittobesuchasmightbereliedon.