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Chapter XLIII · Pride and Prejudice | Audiobook

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Speaker 1: Chapter 43 Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the
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Speaker 1: first appearance of Pemberley Woods with some perturbation, and when
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Speaker 1: at length they turned in at the lodge, her spirits
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Speaker 1: were in a high flutter. The park was very large
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Speaker 1: and contained great variety of ground. They entered it in
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Speaker 1: one of its lowest points. and drove for some time
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Speaker 1: through a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent. Elizabeth's
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Speaker 1: mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and
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Speaker 1: admired every remarkable spot and point of view. They gradually
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Speaker 1: ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at
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Speaker 1: the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased
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Speaker 1: and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House. situated
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Speaker 1: on the opposite side of the valley, into which the
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Speaker 1: road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome
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Speaker 1: stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by
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Speaker 1: a ridge of high, woody hills, and in front, a
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Speaker 1: stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but
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Speaker 1: without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal nor
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Speaker 1: falsely adorned, Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a
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Speaker 1: place for which nature had done more, or where natural
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Speaker 1: beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.
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Speaker 1: They were all of them warm in their admiration, and
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Speaker 1: at that moment she felt that to be mistress of
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Speaker 1: Pemberley might be something. They descended the hill, crossed the
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Speaker 1: bridge and drove to the door, and, while examining the
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Speaker 1: nearer aspect of the house, all her apprehension of meeting
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Speaker 1: its owner returned. She dreaded lest the chambermaid had been mistaken.
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Speaker 1: On applying to see the place, they were admitted into
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Speaker 1: the hall, and Elizabeth, as they waited for the housekeeper,
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Speaker 1: had leisure to wonder at her being where she was.
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Speaker 1: the housekeeper came. A respectable-looking elderly woman, much less fine
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Speaker 1: and more civil than she had any notion of finding her.
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Speaker 1: They followed her into the dining parlour. It was a large,
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Speaker 1: well-proportioned room, handsomely fitted up. Elizabeth, after slightly surveying it,
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Speaker 1: went to a window to enjoy its prospect. The hill,
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Speaker 1: crowned with wood from which they had descended, receiving increased
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Speaker 1: abruptness from the distance, was a beautiful object. Every disposition
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Speaker 1: of the ground was good, and she looked on the
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Speaker 1: whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its banks,
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Speaker 1: and the winding of the valley, as far as she
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Speaker 1: could trace it, with delight. As they passed into other rooms,
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Speaker 1: these objects were taking different positions and but from every
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Speaker 1: window there were beauties to be seen. The rooms were
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Speaker 1: lofty and handsome, and their furniture suitable to the fortune
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Speaker 1: of their proprietor. But Elizabeth saw, with admiration of his taste,
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Speaker 1: that it was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine, with less
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Speaker 1: of splendour and more real elegance than the furniture of Rosings.
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Speaker 1: And of this place, thought she, I might have been mistress.
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Speaker 1: With these rooms, I might have now been familiarly acquainted.
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Speaker 1: Instead of viewing them as a stranger, I might have
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Speaker 1: rejoiced in them as my own, and welcomed to them
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Speaker 1: as visitors my uncle and aunt. But no, recollecting herself,
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Speaker 1: that could never be. My uncle and aunt would have
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Speaker 1: been lost to me. I should not have been allowed
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Speaker 1: to invite them. This was a lucky recollection. It saved
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Speaker 1: her from something like regret. She longed to inquire of
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Speaker 1: the housekeeper whether her master were really absent, but had
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Speaker 1: not courage for it. At length, however, the question was
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Speaker 1: asked by her uncle, and she turned away with alarm,
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Speaker 1: while Mrs Reynolds replied that he was, adding, But we
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Speaker 1: expect him to-morrow. with a large party of friends. How
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Speaker 1: rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own journey had not by
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Speaker 1: any circumstance been delayed a day. Her aunt now called
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Speaker 1: her to look at a picture. She approached and saw
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Speaker 1: the likeness of Mr Wickham, suspended amongst several other miniatures
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Speaker 1: over the mantelpiece. Her aunt asked her, smilingly, how she
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Speaker 1: liked it. The housekeeper came forward, and told them it
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Speaker 1: was the picture of a young gentleman, the son of
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Speaker 1: her late master's steward, who had been brought up by
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Speaker 1: him at his own expense. He has now gone into
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Speaker 1: the army, she added, but I am afraid he has
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Speaker 1: turned out very wild. Mrs Gardiner looked at her niece
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Speaker 1: with a smile, but Elizabeth could not return it. And that,
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Speaker 1: said Mrs Reynolds, pointing to another of the miniatures, is
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Speaker 1: my master. and very like him. It was drawn at
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Speaker 1: the same time as the other, about eight years ago.'
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Speaker 1: I have heard much of your master's fine person,' said
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Speaker 1: Mrs Gardner, looking at the picture.' It is a handsome face. But, Lizzy,
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Speaker 1: you can tell us whether it is like or not.'
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Speaker 1: Mrs Reynolds' respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this
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Speaker 1: intimation of her knowing her master. Does that young lady
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Speaker 1: know Mr Darcy? Elizabeth coloured and said, A little. And
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Speaker 1: do not you think him a very handsome gentleman, ma'am? Yes,
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Speaker 1: very handsome. I am sure I know none so handsome,
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Speaker 1: but in the gallery upstairs you will see a finer,
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Speaker 1: larger picture of him than this. This room was my
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Speaker 1: late master's favourite room, and these miniatures are just as
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Speaker 1: they used to be then. He was very fond of them.
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Speaker 1: This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr Wickham's being among them.
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Speaker 1: Mrs Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss Darcy,
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Speaker 1: drawn when she was only eight years old. And is
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Speaker 1: Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother? said Mr Gardner.
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Speaker 1: Oh yes, the handsomest young lady that ever was seen.
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Speaker 1: and so accomplished. She plays and sings all day long.
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Speaker 1: In the next room is a new instrument just come
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Speaker 1: down for her, a present from my master. She comes
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Speaker 1: here tomorrow with him. Mr Gardner, whose manners were easy
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Speaker 1: and pleasant, encouraged her communicativeness by his questions and remarks.
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Speaker 1: Mrs Reynolds, either from pride or attachment, had evidently great
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Speaker 1: pleasure in talking of her master and his sister. Is
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Speaker 1: your master much at Pemberley in the course of the year?
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Speaker 1: Not so much as I could wish, sir, but I
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Speaker 1: dare say he may spend half his time here, and
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Speaker 1: Miss Darcy is always down for the summer months. Except,
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Speaker 1: thought Elizabeth, when she goes to Ramsgate... If your master
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Speaker 1: would marry, you might see more of him. Yes, sir,
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Speaker 1: but I do not know when that will be. I
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Speaker 1: do not know who is good enough for him. Mr.
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Speaker 1: and Mrs. Gardner smiled. Elizabeth could not help saying, It
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Speaker 1: is very much to his credit, I am sure, that
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Speaker 1: you should think so. I say no more than the truth,
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Speaker 1: and what everybody will say that knows him, replied the other.
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Speaker 1: Elizabeth thought this was going pretty far, and she listened
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Speaker 1: with increasing astonishment as the housekeeper added, I have never
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Speaker 1: had a cross word from him in my life, and
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Speaker 1: I have known him ever since he was four years old.
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Speaker 1: This was praise of all others most extraordinary, most opposite
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Speaker 1: to her ideas. That he was not a good-tempered man
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Speaker 1: had been her firmest opinion. Her keenest attention was awakened.
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Speaker 1: She longed to hear more, and was grateful to her
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Speaker 1: uncle for saying, There are very few people of whom
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Speaker 1: so much can be said. You are lucky in having
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Speaker 1: such a master. Yes, sir, I know I am. If
9:31
Speaker 1: I were to go through the world, I could not
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Speaker 1: meet with a better. But I have always observed that
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Speaker 1: they who are good-natured when children... are good-natured when they
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Speaker 1: grow up, and he was always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted
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Speaker 1: boy in the world. Elizabeth almost stared at her. Can
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Speaker 1: this be Mr Darcy? thought she. His father was an
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Speaker 1: excellent man. said Mrs Gardner. Yes, ma'am, that he was indeed,
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Speaker 1: and his son will be just like him, just as
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Speaker 1: affable to the poor. Elizabeth listened, wondered, doubted, and was
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Speaker 1: impatient for more. Mrs Reynolds could interest her on no
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Speaker 1: other point. She related the subjects of the pictures... the
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Speaker 1: dimensions of the rooms, and the price of the furniture
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Speaker 1: in vain. Mr Gardiner, highly amused by the kind of
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Speaker 1: family prejudice to which he attributed her excessive commendation of
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Speaker 1: her master, soon led again to the subject, and she
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Speaker 1: dwelt with energy on his many merits as they proceeded
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Speaker 1: together up the great staircase. He is the best landlord,
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Speaker 1: and the best master. said she, that ever lived. Not
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Speaker 1: like the wild young men nowadays who think of nothing
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Speaker 1: but themselves. There is not one of his tenants or
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Speaker 1: servants but what will give him a good name. Some
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Speaker 1: people call him proud, but I am sure I never
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Speaker 1: saw anything of it. To my fancy, it is only
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Speaker 1: because he does not rattle away like other young men.
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Speaker 1: In what an amiable light does this place him, thought Elizabeth.
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Speaker 1: This fine account of him, whispered her aunt as they walked,
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Speaker 1: is not quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend.
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Speaker 1: Perhaps we might be deceived. That is not very likely.
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Speaker 1: Our authority was too good. On reaching the spacious lobby above,
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Speaker 1: they were shown into a very pretty sitting room, lately
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Speaker 1: fitted up with greater elegance and lightness than the apartments below,
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Speaker 1: and were informed that it was but just done to
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Speaker 1: give pleasure to Miss Darcy, who had taken a liking
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Speaker 1: to the room, when last at Pemberley. He is certainly
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Speaker 1: a good brother, said Elizabeth, as she walked towards one
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Speaker 1: of the windows. Mrs Reynolds anticipated Miss Darcy's delight. when
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Speaker 1: she should enter the room. And this is always the
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Speaker 1: way with him, she added. Whatever can give his sister
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Speaker 1: any pleasure is sure to be done in a moment.
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Speaker 1: There is nothing he would not do for her. The
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Speaker 1: picture gallery and two or three of the principal bedrooms
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Speaker 1: were all that remained to be shown. In the former
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Speaker 1: were many good paintings. But Elizabeth knew nothing of the art,
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Speaker 1: and from such as had been already visible below, she
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Speaker 1: had willingly turned to look at some drawings of Miss Darcy's,
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Speaker 1: in crayons, whose subjects were usually more interesting, and also
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Speaker 1: more intelligible. In the gallery, there were many family portraits,
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Speaker 1: but they could have little to fix the attention of
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Speaker 1: a stranger. Elizabeth walked on in quest of the only
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Speaker 1: face whose features would be known to her. At last,
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Speaker 1: it arrested her, and she beheld a striking resemblance of
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Speaker 1: Mr Darcy, with such a smile over the face as
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Speaker 1: she remembered to have sometimes seen when he looked at her.
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Speaker 1: She stood, several minutes before the picture, in earnest contemplation,
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Speaker 1: and returned to it again before they quitted the gallery.
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Speaker 1: Mrs Reynolds informed them that it had been taken in
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Speaker 1: his father's lifetime. There was certainly at this moment, in
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Speaker 1: Elizabeth's mind, a more gentle sensation towards the original than
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Speaker 1: she had ever felt in the height of their acquaintance.
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Speaker 1: The commendation bestowed on him by Mrs Reynolds was of
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Speaker 1: no trifling nature. What praise is more valuable than the
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Speaker 1: praise of an intelligent servant? As a brother, a landlord,
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Speaker 1: a master, she considered how many people's happiness were in
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Speaker 1: his guardianship, how much of pleasure or pain it was
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Speaker 1: in his power to bestow, how much of good or
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Speaker 1: evil must be done by him. Every idea that had
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Speaker 1: been brought forward by the housekeeper was favourable to his character.
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Speaker 1: And as she stood before the canvas on which he
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Speaker 1: was represented... and fixed his eyes upon herself. She thought
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Speaker 1: of his regard with a deeper sentiment of gratitude than
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Speaker 1: it had ever raised before. She remembered its warmth, and
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Speaker 1: softened its impropriety of expression. When all of the house
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Speaker 1: that was open to general inspection had been seen, they
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Speaker 1: returned downstairs, and, taking leave of the housekeeper, were consigned
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Speaker 1: over to the gardener who met them at the hall door.
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Speaker 1: As they walked across the lawn towards the river, Elizabeth
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Speaker 1: turned back to look again. Her uncle and aunt stopped also,
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Speaker 1: and while the former was conjecturing as to the date
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Speaker 1: of the building, the owner of it himself suddenly came
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Speaker 1: forward from the road which led behind it to the stables.
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Speaker 1: They were within twenty yards of each other. and so
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Speaker 1: abrupt was his appearance that it was impossible to avoid
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Speaker 1: his sight. Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of
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Speaker 1: each were overspread with the deepest blush. He absolutely started,
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Speaker 1: and for a moment seemed immovable from surprise, but shortly
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Speaker 1: recovering himself, advanced towards the party and spoke to Elizabeth,
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Speaker 1: if not in terms of perfect composure. at least of
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Speaker 1: perfect civility. She had instinctively turned away, but stopping on
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Speaker 1: his approach, received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to
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Speaker 1: be overcome. Had his first appearance, or his resemblance to
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Speaker 1: the picture they had just been examining, been insufficient to
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Speaker 1: assure the other two that they now saw Mr Darcy,
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Speaker 1: the gardener's expression of surprise? on beholding his master, must
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Speaker 1: immediately have told it. They stood a little aloof while
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Speaker 1: he was talking to their niece, who, astonished and confused,
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Speaker 1: scarcely dared lift her eyes to his face, and knew
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Speaker 1: not what answer she returned to his civil inquiries after
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Speaker 1: her family. Amazed at the alteration of his manner since
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Speaker 1: they last parted, Every sentence that he uttered was increasing
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Speaker 1: her embarrassment, and every idea of the impropriety of her
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Speaker 1: being found there recurring to her mind. The few minutes
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Speaker 1: in which they continued together were some of the most
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Speaker 1: uncomfortable of her life. Nor did he seem much more
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Speaker 1: at ease. When he spoke, his accent had none of
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Speaker 1: its usual sedateness. and he repeated his inquiries as to
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Speaker 1: the time of her having left Longbourn and of her
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Speaker 1: stay in Derbyshire so often and in so hurried a
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Speaker 1: way as plainly spoke the distraction of his thoughts. At length,
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Speaker 1: every idea seemed to fail him, and after standing a
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Speaker 1: few moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself
18:05
Speaker 1: and took leave. The others then joined her, and expressed
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Speaker 1: their admiration of his figure. But Elizabeth heard not a word,
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Speaker 1: and wholly engrossed by her own feelings, followed them in silence.
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Speaker 1: She was overpowered by shame and vexation. Her coming there
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Speaker 1: was the most unfortunate, the most ill-judged thing in the world.
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Speaker 1: How strange must it appear to him! In what a
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Speaker 1: disgraceful light might it not strike so vain a man!
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Speaker 1: it might seem as if she had purposely thrown herself
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Speaker 1: in his way again. Oh, why did she come? Or
18:49
Speaker 1: why did he thus come a day before he was expected?
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Speaker 1: Had they been only ten minutes sooner, they should have
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Speaker 1: been beyond the reach of his discrimination. For it was
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Speaker 1: plain that he was that moment arrived, that moment alighted
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Speaker 1: from his horse or his carriage. She blushed again and
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Speaker 1: again over the perverseness of the meeting. And his behaviour,
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Speaker 1: so strikingly altered. What could it mean? That he should
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Speaker 1: even speak to her was amazing. But to speak with
19:23
Speaker 1: such civility, to inquire after her family. Never in her
19:28
Speaker 1: life had she seen his manners so little dignified. Never
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Speaker 1: had he spoken with such gentleness as on this unexpected meeting.
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Speaker 1: What a contrast did it offer to his last address
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Speaker 1: in Rosings Park, when he put his letter into her hand.
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Speaker 1: She knew not what to think, or how to explain.
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Speaker 1: for it. They had now entered a beautiful walk by
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Speaker 1: the side of the water, and every step was bringing
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Speaker 1: forward a nobler fall of ground, or a finer reach
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Speaker 1: of the woods to which they were approaching. but it
20:06
Speaker 1: was some time before Elizabeth was sensible of any of it.
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Speaker 1: And though she answered mechanically to the repeated appeals of
20:15
Speaker 1: her uncle and aunt, and seemed to direct her eyes
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Speaker 1: to such objects as they pointed out, she distinguished no
20:23
Speaker 1: part of the scene. Her thoughts were all fixed on
20:28
Speaker 1: that one spot of Pemberley House, whichever it might be,
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Speaker 1: where Mr Darcy then was. She longed to know what
20:38
Speaker 1: at that moment was passing in his mind, in what
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Speaker 1: manner he thought of her, and whether, in defiance of everything,
20:46
Speaker 1: she was still dear to him. Perhaps he had been
20:50
Speaker 1: civil only because he felt himself at ease. Yet there
20:54
Speaker 1: had been that in his voice which was not like ease.
20:59
Speaker 1: Whether he had felt more of pain or of pleasure
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Speaker 1: in seeing her, she could not tell. but he certainly
21:07
Speaker 1: had not seen her with composure. At length, however, the
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Speaker 1: remarks of her companions on her absence of mind roused her,
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Speaker 1: and she felt the necessity of appearing more like herself.
21:22
Speaker 1: They entered the woods, and, bidding adieu to the river
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Speaker 1: for a while, ascended some of the higher grounds, whence,
21:31
Speaker 1: in spots where the opening of the trees gave the
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Speaker 1: eye power to wander, were many charming views of the valley,
21:38
Speaker 1: the opposite hills, with the long range of woods overspreading many,
21:44
Speaker 1: and occasionally part of the stream. Mr Gardner expressed a
21:49
Speaker 1: wish of going round the whole park, but feared it
21:53
Speaker 1: might be beyond a walk. With a triumphant smile, they
21:58
Speaker 1: were told that it was ten miles round. It settled
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Speaker 1: the matter. and they pursued the accustomed circuit, which brought
22:07
Speaker 1: them again, after some time, in a descent among hanging woods,
22:13
Speaker 1: to the edge of the water, and one of its
22:15
Speaker 1: narrowest parts. They crossed it by a simple bridge, in
22:21
Speaker 1: character with the general air of the scene. It was
22:25
Speaker 1: a spot less adorned than any they had yet visited,
22:29
Speaker 1: and the valley, here contracted into a glen, allowed room
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Speaker 1: only for the stream and a narrow walk amidst the
22:37
Speaker 1: rough coppice wood which bordered it. Elizabeth longed to explore
22:43
Speaker 1: its windings, but when they had crossed the bridge and
22:48
Speaker 1: perceived their distance from the house, Mrs Gardner, who was
22:53
Speaker 1: not a great walker, could go no farther and thought
22:58
Speaker 1: only of returning to the carriage as quickly as possible.
23:02
Speaker 1: Her niece was, therefore, obliged to submit, and they took
23:07
Speaker 1: their way towards the house on the opposite side of
23:10
Speaker 1: the river, in the nearest direction. But their progress was slow,
23:17
Speaker 1: for Mr. Gardner, though seldom able to indulge the taste,
23:22
Speaker 1: was very fond of fishing, and was so much engaged
23:26
Speaker 1: in watching the occasional appearance of some trout in the
23:29
Speaker 1: water that and talking to the man about them, that
23:34
Speaker 1: he advanced but little. Whilst wandering on in this slow manner,
23:40
Speaker 1: they were again surprised, and Elizabeth's astonishment was quite equal
23:45
Speaker 1: to what it had been at first, by the sight
23:48
Speaker 1: of Mr. Darcy approaching them, and at no great distance.
23:54
Speaker 1: The walk being here less sheltered than on the other side,
23:58
Speaker 1: allowed them to see him before they met. Elizabeth, however astonished,
24:05
Speaker 1: was at least more prepared for an interview than before,
24:09
Speaker 1: and resolved to appear and to speak with calmness, if
24:14
Speaker 1: he really intended to meet them. For a few moments indeed,
24:19
Speaker 1: she felt that he would probably strike into some other path.
24:24
Speaker 1: The idea lasted while a turning in the walk concealed
24:27
Speaker 1: him from their view. The turning past was he was
24:32
Speaker 1: immediately before them. With a glance, she saw that he
24:36
Speaker 1: had lost none of his recent civility, and to imitate
24:40
Speaker 1: his politeness, she began as they met to admire the
24:44
Speaker 1: beauty of the place, but she had not got beyond
24:48
Speaker 1: the words delightful and charming, when some unlucky recollections obtruded,
24:57
Speaker 1: and she fancied that praise of Pemberley from her might
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Speaker 1: be mischievously construed. Her colour changed, and she said no more.
25:07
Speaker 1: Mrs Gardiner was standing a little behind, and on her pausing,
25:12
Speaker 1: he asked her if she would do him the honour
25:15
Speaker 1: of introducing him to her friends. This was a stroke
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Speaker 1: of civility for which she was quite unprepared. and she
25:24
Speaker 1: could hardly suppress a smile at his being now seeking
25:27
Speaker 1: the acquaintance of some of those very people, against whom
25:32
Speaker 1: his pride had revolted in his offer to herself. What
25:36
Speaker 1: will be his surprise, thought she, when he knows who
25:40
Speaker 1: they are? He takes them now for people of fashion.
25:45
Speaker 1: The introduction, however, was immediately made, and as she named
25:50
Speaker 1: their relationship to herself, She stole a sly look at him,
25:54
Speaker 1: to see how he bore it, and was not without
25:58
Speaker 1: the expectation of his decamping as fast as he could
26:01
Speaker 1: from such disgraceful companions. That he was surprised by the
26:06
Speaker 1: connection was evident. He sustained it, however, with fortitude, and
26:12
Speaker 1: so far from going away, turned back with them, and
26:17
Speaker 1: entered into conversation with Mr Gardiner. Elizabeth could not but
26:23
Speaker 1: be pleased, could not but triumph. It was consoling that
26:28
Speaker 1: he should know she had some relations for whom there
26:31
Speaker 1: was no need to blush. She listened most attentively to
26:36
Speaker 1: all that passed between them, and gloried in every expression,
26:41
Speaker 1: every sentence of her uncle, which marked his intelligence, his taste,
26:47
Speaker 1: or his good manners. The conversation soon turned upon fishing,
26:53
Speaker 1: and she heard Mr Darcy invite him, with the greatest civility,
26:58
Speaker 1: to fish there as often as he chose, while he
27:02
Speaker 1: continued in the neighbourhood, offering at the same time to
27:06
Speaker 1: supply him with fishing tackle and pointing out those parts
27:09
Speaker 1: of the stream where there was usually most sport. Mrs Gardner,
27:17
Speaker 1: who was walking arm in arm with Elizabeth, gave her
27:20
Speaker 1: a look expressive of her wonder. Elizabeth said nothing, but
27:26
Speaker 1: it gratified her exceedingly. The compliment must be all for herself.
27:32
Speaker 1: Her astonishment, however, was extreme, and continually was she repeating,
27:38
Speaker 1: Why is he so altered? From what can it proceed?
27:42
Speaker 1: It cannot be for me. It cannot be for my
27:45
Speaker 1: sake that his manners are thus softened. My reproofs at
27:50
Speaker 1: Hunsford could not work such a change as this. It
27:54
Speaker 1: is impossible that he should still love me. After walking
28:00
Speaker 1: some time in this way, the two ladies in front,
28:04
Speaker 1: the two gentlemen behind, on resuming their places, after descending
28:09
Speaker 1: to the brink of the river for the better inspection
28:12
Speaker 1: of some curious water plant, there chanced to be a
28:16
Speaker 1: little alteration. It originated in Mrs Gardner, who, fatigued by
28:23
Speaker 1: the exercise of the morning, found Elizabeth's arm inadequate to
28:27
Speaker 1: her support, and consequently preferred her husband's. Mr Darcy took
28:33
Speaker 1: her place by her niece, and they walked on together.
28:38
Speaker 1: After a short silence, the lady first spoke. She wished
28:43
Speaker 1: him to know that she had been assured of his
28:46
Speaker 1: absence before she came to the place. and accordingly began
28:49
Speaker 1: by observing, that his arrival had been very unexpected. For
28:55
Speaker 1: your housekeeper, she added, informed us that you would certainly
29:00
Speaker 1: not be here till tomorrow. And indeed, before we left Bakewell,
29:06
Speaker 1: we understood that you was not immediately expected in the country.
29:14
Speaker 1: He acknowledged the truth of it all, and said that
29:17
Speaker 1: business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a
29:21
Speaker 1: few hours before the rest of the party with whom
29:24
Speaker 1: he had been travelling. They will join me early tomorrow,
29:30
Speaker 1: he continued, and among them are some who will claim
29:34
Speaker 1: an acquaintance with you, Mr Bingley and his sisters. Elizabeth
29:41
Speaker 1: answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly
29:45
Speaker 1: driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had
29:48
Speaker 1: been last mentioned between them, and if she might judge
29:53
Speaker 1: from his complexion, his mind was not very differently engaged.
30:00
Speaker 1: There is also one other person in the party, he
30:03
Speaker 1: continued after a pause, who more particularly wishes to be
30:08
Speaker 1: known to you. Will you allow me, or do I
30:12
Speaker 1: ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance
30:16
Speaker 1: during your stay at Lambton? The surprise of such an
30:21
Speaker 1: application was great indeed. It was too great for her
30:25
Speaker 1: to know in what manner she acceded to it. She
30:30
Speaker 1: immediately felt that whatever desire Miss Darcy might have of
30:33
Speaker 1: being acquainted with her must be the work of her brother,
30:38
Speaker 1: and without looking farther, it was satisfactory. It was gratifying
30:43
Speaker 1: to know that his resentment had not made him think
30:47
Speaker 1: really ill of her. They now walked on in silence,
30:51
Speaker 1: each of them deep in thought. Elizabeth was not comfortable.
30:56
Speaker 1: That was impossible. but she was flattered and pleased. His
31:01
Speaker 1: wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment
31:05
Speaker 1: of the highest kind. They soon outstripped the others, and
31:10
Speaker 1: when they had reached the carriage, Mr and Mrs Gardiner
31:14
Speaker 1: were half a quarter of a mile behind. He then
31:18
Speaker 1: asked her to walk into the house, but she declared
31:21
Speaker 1: herself not tired, and they stood together on the lawn.
31:26
Speaker 1: At such a time, Much might have been said, and
31:30
Speaker 1: silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk, but there
31:35
Speaker 1: seemed an embargo on every subject. At last, she recollected
31:41
Speaker 1: that she had been travelling, and they talked of Matlock
31:44
Speaker 1: and Dovedale with great perseverance. Yet time and her aunt
31:49
Speaker 1: moved slowly, and her patience and her ideas were nearly
31:54
Speaker 1: worn out before the tête-à-tête was over. On Mr and
31:59
Speaker 1: Mrs Gardener's coming up, they were all pressed to go
32:02
Speaker 1: into the house and take some refreshment. But this was declined,
32:07
Speaker 1: and they parted on each side with the utmost politeness.
32:12
Speaker 1: Mr Darcy handed the ladies into the carriage, and when
32:16
Speaker 1: it drove off, Elizabeth saw him walking slowly towards the house.
32:22
Speaker 1: The observations of her uncle and aunt now began. and
32:26
Speaker 1: each of them pronounced him to be infinitely superior to
32:30
Speaker 1: anything they had expected. He is perfectly well behaved, polite
32:37
Speaker 1: and unassuming, said her uncle. There is something a little
32:41
Speaker 1: stately in him, to be sure, replied her aunt, but
32:45
Speaker 1: it is confined to his air and is not unbecoming.
32:50
Speaker 1: I can now say with the housekeeper that though some
32:53
Speaker 1: people may call him proud, I have seen nothing of it.
32:59
Speaker 1: I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us.
33:02
Speaker 1: It was more than civil. It was really attentive. And
33:06
Speaker 1: there was no necessity for such attention. His acquaintance with
33:11
Speaker 1: Elizabeth was very trifling. To be sure, Lizzie, said her aunt,
33:18
Speaker 1: he is not so handsome as Wickham. Or rather, he
33:22
Speaker 1: has not Wickham's countenance. for his features are perfectly good.
33:27
Speaker 1: But how came you to tell us that he was
33:30
Speaker 1: so disagreeable? Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could,
33:37
Speaker 1: said that she had liked him better when they met
33:39
Speaker 1: in Kent than before, and that she had never seen
33:43
Speaker 1: him so pleasant as this morning. But perhaps he may
33:49
Speaker 1: be a little whimsical in his civilities, replied her uncle.
33:54
Speaker 1: Your great men often are, and therefore I shall not
33:58
Speaker 1: take him at his word about fishing, as he might
34:01
Speaker 1: change his mind another day, and warn me off his grounds.
34:07
Speaker 1: Elizabeth felt that they had entirely mistaken his character, but
34:11
Speaker 1: said nothing. From what we have seen of him, continued
34:18
Speaker 1: Mrs Gardiner, I really should not have thought that he
34:21
Speaker 1: could have behaved in so cruel a way by anybody
34:26
Speaker 1: as he has done by poor Wickham. He has not
34:29
Speaker 1: an ill-natured look. On the contrary, there is something pleasing
34:34
Speaker 1: about his mouth when he speaks, and there is something
34:38
Speaker 1: of dignity in his countenance that would not give one
34:43
Speaker 1: an unfavourable idea of his heart. But to be sure,
34:48
Speaker 1: The good lady who showed us the house did give
34:51
Speaker 1: him a most flaming character. I could hardly help laughing
34:55
Speaker 1: aloud sometimes. But he is a liberal master, I suppose,
35:01
Speaker 1: and that, in the eye of a servant, comprehends every virtue.
35:07
Speaker 1: Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in
35:10
Speaker 1: vindication of his behaviour to Wickham, and therefore gave them
35:15
Speaker 1: to understand. in as guarded a manner as she could,
35:20
Speaker 1: that by what she had heard from his relations in Kent,
35:24
Speaker 1: his actions were capable of a very different construction, and
35:29
Speaker 1: that his character was by no means so faulty, nor
35:33
Speaker 1: Wickham's so amiable, as they had been considered in Hertfordshire.
35:39
Speaker 1: In confirmation of this, she related the particulars of all
35:43
Speaker 1: the pecuniary transactions in which they had been connected, without
35:48
Speaker 1: actually naming her authority, but stating it to be such
35:52
Speaker 1: as might be relied on. Mrs Gardiner was surprised and concerned,
36:00
Speaker 1: but as they were now approaching the scene of her
36:03
Speaker 1: former pleasures, every idea gave way to the charm of recollection,
36:09
Speaker 1: and she was too much engaged in pointing out to
36:12
Speaker 1: her husband all the interesting spots in its environs, to
36:17
Speaker 1: think of anything else. Fatigued as she had been by
36:21
Speaker 1: the morning's walk, they had no sooner dined than she
36:25
Speaker 1: set off again in quest of her former acquaintance, and
36:29
Speaker 1: the evening was spent in the satisfactions of an intercourse
36:33
Speaker 1: renewed after many years' discontinuance. The occurrences of the day
36:39
Speaker 1: were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth much attention
36:44
Speaker 1: for any of these new friends. and she could do
36:48
Speaker 1: nothing but think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's civility,
36:54
Speaker 1: and above all, of his wishing her to be acquainted
36:59
Speaker 1: with his sister.