"thisfineaccountofhim,"whisperedheraunt,astheywalked,"isnotquiteconsistentwithhisbehaviourtoourpoorfriend."

"perhapswemightbedeceived."

"thatisnotverylikely;ourauthoritywastoogood."

onreachingthespaciouslobbyabove,theywereshewnintoaveryprettysitting-room,latelyfittedupwithgreatereleganceandlightnessthantheapartmentsbelow;andwereinformedthatitwasbutjustdonetogivepleasuretomissdarcy,whohadtakenalikingtotheroomwhenlastatpemberley.

"heiscertainlyagoodbrother,"saidelizabeth,asshewalkedtowardsoneofthewindows.

mrs.reynoldsanticipatedmissdarcy'sdelightwhensheshouldentertheroom."andthisisalwaysthewaywithhim,"sheadded.—"whatevercangivehissisteranypleasureissuretobedoneinamoment.thereisnothinghewouldnotdoforher."

thepicturegallery,andtwoorthreeoftheprincipalbedrooms,wereallthatremainedtobeshewn.intheformerweremanygoodpaintings;butelizabethknewnothingoftheart;andfromsuchashadbeenalreadyvisiblebelow,shehadwillinglyturnedtolookatsomedrawingsofmissdarcy's,incrayons,whosesubjectswereusuallymoreinteresting,andalsomoreintelligible.

inthegallerythereweremanyfamilyportraits,buttheycouldhavelittletofixtheattentionofastranger.elizabethwalkedoninquestoftheonlyfacewhosefeatureswouldbeknowntoher.atlastitarrestedher—andshebeheldastrikingresemblanceofmr.darcy,withsuchasmileoverthefaceassherememberedtohavesometimesseen,whenhelookedather.shestoodseveralminutesbeforethepictureinearnestcontemplation,andreturnedtoitagainbeforetheyquittedthegallery.mrs.reynoldsinformedthemthatithadbeentakeninhisfather'slifetime.

therewascertainlyatthismoment,inelizabeth'smind,amoregentlesensationtowardstheoriginalthanshehadeverfeltintheheightoftheiracquaintance.thecommendationbestowedonhimbymrs.reynoldswasofnotriflingnature.whatpraiseismorevaluablethanthepraiseofanintelligentservant?asabrother,alandlord,amaster,sheconsideredhowmanypeople'shappinesswereinhisguardianship!—howmuchofpleasureorpainitwasinhispowertobestow!—howmuchofgoodorevilmustbedonebyhim!everyideathathadbeenbroughtforwardbythehousekeeperwasfavourabletohischaracter,andasshestoodbeforethecanvas,onwhichhewasrepresented,andfixedhiseyesuponherself,shethoughtofhisregardwithadeepersentimentofgratitudethanithadeverraisedbefore;sheremembereditswarmth,andsofteneditsimproprietyofexpression.

whenallofthehousethatwasopentogeneralinspectionhadbeenseen,theyreturneddownstairs,and,takingleaveofthehousekeeper,wereconsignedovertothegardener,whometthematthehalldoor.

astheywalkedacrossthelawntowardstheriver,elizabethturnedbacktolookagain;heruncleandauntstoppedalso,andwhiletheformerwasconjecturingastothedateofthebuilding,theownerofithimselfsuddenlycameforwardfromtheroad,whichledbehindittothestables.

theywerewithintwentyyardsofeachother,andsoabruptwashisappearance,thatitwasimpossibletoavoidhissight.theireyesinstantlymet,andthecheeksofeachwereoverspreadwiththedeepestblush.heabsolutelystarted,andforamomentseemedimmoveablefromsurprise;butshortlyrecoveringhimself,advancedtowardstheparty,andspoketoelizabeth,ifnotintermsofperfectcomposure,atleastofperfectcivility.

shehadinstinctivelyturnedaway;but,stoppingonhisapproach,receivedhiscomplimentswithanembarrassmentimpossibletobeovercome.hadhisfirstappearance,orhisresemblancetothepicturetheyhadjustbeenexamining,beeninsufficienttoassuretheothertwothattheynowsawmr.darcy,thegardener'sexpressionofsurpriseonbeholdinghismastermustimmediatelyhavetoldit.theystoodalittlealoofwhilehewastalkingtotheirniece,who,astonishedandconfused,scarcelydaredlifthereyestohisface,andknewnotwhatanswershereturnedtohiscivilenquiriesafterherfamily.amazedatthealterationinhismannersincetheylastparted,everysentencethatheutteredwasincreasingherembarrassment;andeveryideaoftheimproprietyofherbeingfoundthererecurringtohermind,thefewminutesinwhichtheycontinuedtogetherweresomeofthemostuncomfortableofherlife.nordidheseemmuchmoreatease;whenhespoke,hisaccenthadnoneofitsusualsedateness;andherepeatedhisenquiriesastothetimeofherhavingleftlongbourn,andofherstayinderbyshire,sooften,andinsohurriedaway,asplainlyspokethedistractionofhisthoughts.

atlength,everyideaseemedtofailhim;and,afterstandingafewmomentswithoutsayingaword,hesuddenlyrecollectedhimself,andtookleave.

theothersthenjoinedher,andexpressedtheiradmirationofhisfigure;butelizabethheardnotaword,and,whollyengrossedbyherownfeelings,followedtheminsilence.shewasoverpoweredbyshameandvexation.hercomingtherewasthemostunfortunate,themostill-judgedthingintheworld!howstrangemustitappeartohim!inwhatadisgracefullightmightitnotstrikesovainaman!itmightseemasifshehadpurposelythrownherselfinhiswayagain!oh!whydidshecome?or,whydidhethuscomeadaybeforehewasexpected?hadtheybeenonlytenminutessooner,theyshouldhavebeenbeyondthereachofhisdiscrimination,foritwasplainthathewasthatmomentarrived,thatmomentalightedfromhishorseorhiscarriage.sheblushedagainandagainovertheperversenessofthemeeting.andhisbehaviour,sostrikinglyaltered,—whatcoulditmean?thatheshouldevenspeaktoherwasamazing!—buttospeakwithsuchcivility,toenquireafterherfamily!neverinherlifehadsheseenhismannerssolittledignified,neverhadhespokenwithsuchgentlenessasonthisunexpectedmeeting.whatacontrastdiditoffertohislastaddressinrosingspark,whenheputhisletterintoherhand!sheknewnotwhattothink,norhowtoaccountforit.

theyhadnowenteredabeautifulwalkbythesideofthewater,andeverystepwasbringingforwardanoblerfallofground,orafinerreachofthewoodstowhichtheywereapproaching;butitwassometimebeforeelizabethwassensibleofanyofit;and,thoughsheansweredmechanicallytotherepeatedappealsofheruncleandaunt,andseemedtodirecthereyestosuchobjectsastheypointedout,shedistinguishednopartofthescene.herthoughtswereallfixedonthatonespotofpemberleyhouse,whicheveritmightbe,wheremr.darcythenwas.shelongedtoknowwhatatthatmomentwaspassinginhismind;inwhatmannerhethoughtofher,andwhether,indefianceofeverything,shewasstilldeartohim.perhapshehadbeencivilonlybecausehefelthimselfatease;yettherehadbeenthatinhisvoicewhichwasnotlikeease.whetherhehadfeltmoreofpainorofpleasureinseeingher,shecouldnottell,buthecertainlyhadnotseenherwithcomposure.

atlength,however,theremarksofhercompanionsonherabsenceofmindrousedher,andshefeltthenecessityofappearingmorelikeherself.

theyenteredthewoods,andbiddingadieutotheriverforawhile,ascendedsomeofthehighergrounds;whence,inspotswheretheopeningofthetreesgavetheeyepowertowander,weremanycharmingviewsofthevalley,theoppositehills,withthelongrangeofwoodsoverspreadingmany,andoccasionallypartofthestream.mr.gardinerexpressedawishofgoingroundthewholepark,butfeareditmightbebeyondawalk.withatriumphantsmile,theyweretoldthatitwastenmilesround.itsettledthematter;andtheypursuedtheaccustomedcircuit;whichbroughtthemagain,aftersometime,inadescentamonghangingwoods,totheedgeofthewater,inoneofitsnarrowestparts.theycrosseditbyasimplebridge,incharacterwiththegeneralairofthescene;itwasaspotlessadornedthananytheyhadyetvisited;andthevalley,herecontractedintoaglen,allowedroomonlyforthestream,andanarrowwalkamidsttheroughcoppice-woodwhichborderedit.elizabethlongedtoexploreitswindings;butwhentheyhadcrossedthebridge,andperceivedtheirdistancefromthehouse,mrs.gardiner,whowasnotagreatwalker,couldgonofarther,andthoughtonlyofreturningtothecarriageasquicklyaspossible.herniecewas,therefore,obligedtosubmit,andtheytooktheirwaytowardsthehouseontheoppositesideoftheriver,inthenearestdirection;buttheirprogresswasslow,formr.gardiner,thoughseldomabletoindulgethetaste,wasveryfondoffishing,andwassomuchengagedinwatchingtheoccasionalappearanceofsometroutinthewater,andtalkingtothemanaboutthem,thatheadvancedbutlittle.whilstwanderingoninthisslowmanner,theywereagainsurprised,andelizabeth'sastonishmentwasquiteequaltowhatithadbeenatfirst,bythesightofmr.darcyapproachingthem,andatnogreatdistance.thewalkbeingherelessshelteredthanontheotherside,allowedthemtoseehimbeforetheymet.elizabeth,howeverastonished,wasatleastmorepreparedforaninterviewthanbefore,andresolvedtoappearandtospeakwithcalmness,ifhereallyintendedtomeetthem.forafewmoments,indeed,shefeltthathewouldprobablystrikeintosomeotherpath.thisidealastedwhileaturninginthewalkconcealedhimfromtheirview;theturningpast,hewasimmediatelybeforethem.withaglanceshesawthathehadlostnoneofhisrecentcivility;and,toimitatehispoliteness,shebegan,astheymet,toadmirethebeautyoftheplace;butshehadnotgotbeyondthewords"delightful,"and"charming,"whensomeunluckyrecollectionsobtruded,andshefanciedthatpraiseofpemberleyfromhermightbemischievouslyconstrued.hercolourchanged,andshesaidnomore.

mrs.gardinerwasstandingalittlebehind;andonherpausing,heaskedherifshewoulddohimthehonourofintroducinghimtoherfriends.thiswasastrokeofcivilityforwhichshewasquiteunprepared;andshecouldhardlysuppressasmileathisbeingnowseekingtheacquaintanceofsomeofthoseverypeopleagainstwhomhispridehadrevolted,inhisoffertoherself."whatwillbehissurprise,"thoughtshe,"whenheknowswhotheyare!hetakesthemnowforpeopleoffashion."

theintroduction,however,wasimmediatelymade;andasshenamedtheirrelationshiptoherself,shestoleaslylookathim,toseehowheboreit;andwasnotwithouttheexpectationofhisdecampingasfastashecouldfromsuchdisgracefulcompanions.thathewassurprisedbytheconnexionwasevident;hesustainedithoweverwithfortitude,andsofarfromgoingaway,turnedbackwiththem,andenteredintoconversationwithmr.gardiner.elizabethcouldnotbutbepleased,couldnotbuttriumph.itwasconsolingthatheshouldknowshehadsomerelationsforwhomtherewasnoneedtoblush.shelistenedmostattentivelytoallthatpassedbetweenthem,andgloriedineveryexpression,everysentenceofheruncle,whichmarkedhisintelligence,histaste,orhisgoodmanners.

theconversationsoonturneduponfishing,andsheheardmr.darcyinvitehim,withthegreatestcivility,tofishthereasoftenashechosewhilehecontinuedintheneighbourhood,offeringatthesametimetosupplyhimwithfishingtackle,andpointingoutthosepartsofthestreamwheretherewasusuallymostsport.mrs.gardiner,whowaswalkingarminarmwithelizabeth,gaveheralookexpressiveofherwonder.elizabethsaidnothing,butitgratifiedherexceedingly;thecomplimentmustbeallforherself.herastonishment,however,wasextreme;andcontinuallywassherepeating,"whyishesoaltered?fromwhatcanitproceed?itcannotbeforme,itcannotbeformysakethathismannersarethussoftened.myreproofsathunsfordcouldnotworksuchachangeasthis.itisimpossiblethatheshouldstillloveme."

afterwalkingsometimeinthisway,thetwoladiesinfront,thetwogentlemenbehind,onresumingtheirplacesafterdescendingtothebrinkoftheriverforthebetterinspectionofsomecuriouswater-plant,therechancedtobealittlealteration.itoriginatedinmrs.gardiner,who,fatiguedbytheexerciseofthemorning,foundelizabeth'sarminadequatetohersupport,andconsequentlypreferredherhusband's.mr.darcytookherplacebyherniece,andtheywalkedontogether.afterashortsilence,theladyfirstspoke.shewishedhimtoknowthatshehadbeenassuredofhisabsencebeforeshecametotheplace,andaccordinglybeganbyobservingthathisarrivalhadbeenveryunexpected—"foryourhousekeeper,"sheadded,"informedusthatyouwouldcertainlynotbeheretillto-morrow;andindeed,beforeweleftbakewellweunderstoodthatyouwerenotimmediatelyexpectedinthecountry."heacknowledgedthetruthofitall;andsaidthatbusinesswithhisstewardhadoccasionedhiscomingforwardafewhoursbeforetherestofthepartywithwhomhehadbeentravelling."theywilljoinmeearlytomorrow,"hecontinued,"andamongthemaresomewhowillclaimanacquaintancewithyou,—mr.bingleyandhissisters."

elizabethansweredonlybyaslightbow.herthoughtswereinstantlydrivenbacktothetimewhenmr.bingley'snamehadbeenlastmentionedbetweenthem;andifshemightjudgefromhiscomplexion,hismindwasnotverydifferentlyengaged.

"thereisalsooneotherpersonintheparty,"hecontinuedafterapause,"whomoreparticularlywishestobeknowntoyou,—willyouallowme,ordoiasktoomuch,tointroducemysistertoyouracquaintanceduringyourstayatlambton?"

thesurpriseofsuchanapplicationwasgreatindeed;itwastoogreatforhertoknowinwhatmannersheaccededtoit.sheimmediatelyfeltthatwhateverdesiremissdarcymighthaveofbeingacquaintedwithhermustbetheworkofherbrother,andwithoutlookingfarther,itwassatisfactory;itwasgratifyingtoknowthathisresentmenthadnotmadehimthinkreallyillofher.

theynowwalkedoninsilence;eachofthemdeepinthought.elizabethwasnotcomfortable;thatwasimpossible;butshewasflatteredandpleased.hiswishofintroducinghissistertoherwasacomplimentofthehighestkind.theysoonoutstrippedtheothers,andwhentheyhadreachedthecarriage,mr.andmrs.gardinerwerehalfaquarterofamilebehind.

hethenaskedhertowalkintothehouse-butshedeclaredherselfnottired,andtheystoodtogetheronthelawn.atsuchatime,muchmighthavebeensaid,andsilencewasveryawkward.shewantedtotalk,butthereseemedanembargooneverysubject.atlastsherecollectedthatshehadbeentravelling,andtheytalkedofmatlockanddove—dalewithgreatperseverance.yettimeandherauntmovedslowlyandherpatienceandherideaswerenearlywornoutbeforethetête-a-têtewasover.onmr.andmrs.gardiner'scomingup,theywereallpressedtogointothehouseandtakesomerefreshment;butthiswasdeclined,andtheypartedoneachsidewiththeutmostpoliteness.mr.darcyhandedtheladiesintothecarriage,andwhenitdroveoff,elizabethsawhimwalkingslowlytowardsthehouse.

theobservationsofheruncleandauntnowbegan;andeachofthempronouncedhimtobeinfinitelysuperiortoanythingtheyhadexpected."heisperfectlywellbehaved,polite,andunassuming,"saidheruncle.

"thereissomethingalittlestatelyinhimtobesure,"repliedheraunt,"butitisconfinedtohisair,andisnotunbecoming.icannowsaywiththehousekeeper,thatthoughsomepeoplemaycallhimproud,ihaveseennothingofit."

"iwasnevermoresurprisedthanbyhisbehaviourtous.itwasmorethancivil;itwasreallyattentive;andtherewasnonecessityforsuchattention.hisacquaintancewithelizabethwasverytrifling."

"tobesure,lizzy,"saidheraunt,"heisnotsohandsomeaswickham;orratherhehasnotwickham'scountenance,forhisfeaturesareperfectlygood.buthowcameyoutotellusthathewassodisagreeable?"

elizabethexcusedherselfaswellasshecould;saidthatshehadlikedhimbetterwhentheymetinkentthanbefore,andthatshehadneverseenhimsopleasantasthismorning.

"butperhapshemaybealittlewhimsicalinhiscivilities,"repliedheruncle."yourgreatmenoftenare;andthereforeishallnottakehimathiswordaboutfishing,ashemightchangehismindanotherday,andwarnmeoffhisgrounds."

elizabethfeltthattheyhadentirelymistakenhischaracter,butsaidnothing.

"fromwhatwehaveseenofhim,"continuedmrs.gardiner,"ireallyshouldnothavethoughtthathecouldhavebehavedinsocruelawaybyanybody,ashehasdonebypoorwickham.hehasnotanill-naturedlook.onthecontrary,thereissomethingpleasingabouthismouthwhenhespeaks.andthereissomethingofdignityinhiscountenance,thatwouldnotgiveoneanunfavourableideaofhisheart.buttobesure,thegoodladywhoshewedusthehousedidgivehimamostflamingcharacter!icouldhardlyhelplaughingaloudsometimes.butheisaliberalmaster,isuppose,andthatintheeyeofaservantcomprehendseveryvirtue."

elizabethherefeltherselfcalledontosaysomethinginvindicationofhisbehaviourtowickham;andthereforegavethemtounderstand,inasguardedamannerasshecould,thatbywhatshehadheardfromhisrelationsinkent,hisactionswerecapableofaverydifferentconstruction;andthathischaracterwasbynomeanssofaulty,norwickham'ssoamiable,astheyhadbeenconsideredinhertfordshire.inconfirmationofthis,sherelatedtheparticularsofallthepecuniarytransactionsinwhichtheyhadbeenconnected,withoutactuallynamingherauthority,butstatingittobesuchasmightbereliedon.

mrs.gardinerwassurprisedandconcerned;butastheywerenowapproachingthesceneofherformerpleasures,everyideagavewaytothecharmofrecollection;andshewastoomuchengagedinpointingouttoherhusbandalltheinterestingspotsinitsenvironstothinkofanythingelse.fatiguedasshehadbeenbythemorning'swalk,theyhadnosoonerdinedthanshesetoffagaininquestofherformeracquaintance,andtheeveningwasspentinthesatisfactionsofanintercourserenewedaftermanyyearsdiscontinuance.

theoccurrencesofthedayweretoofullofinteresttoleaveelizabethmuchattentionforanyofthesenewfriends;andshecoulddonothingbutthink,andthinkwithwonder,ofmr.darcy'scivility,andaboveall,ofhiswishinghertobeacquaintedwithhissister.