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were really absent； but had not courage for it。 At length； however；
the question was asked by her uncle； and she turned away with
alarm； while Mrs。 Reynolds replied； that he was； adding； ‘but we
expect him tomorrow； with a large party of friends。’ How rejoiced
was Elizabeth that their own journey had not by any circumstance
been delayed a day！
Her aunt now called her to look at a picture。 She approached；
and saw the likeness of Mr。 Wickham suspended； amongst several
other miniatures； over the mantle…piece。 Her aunt asked her；
smilingly； how she liked it。 The housekeeper came forward； and
told them it was the picture of a young gentleman； the son of her
late master’s steward； who had been brought up by him at his own
expence。—‘He is now gone into the army；’ she added； ‘but I am
afraid he has turned out very wild。’
Mrs。 Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile； but Elizabeth
could not return it。
‘And that；’ said Mrs。 Reynolds； pointing to another of the
miniatures； ‘is my master—and very like him。 It was drawn at the
same time as the other—about eight years ago。
‘I have heard much of your master’s fine person；’ said Mrs。
Gardiner； looking at the picture； ‘it is a handsome face。 But； Lizzy；
you can tell us whether it is like or not。’
Mrs。 Reynolds’s respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on
this intimation of her knowing her master。
‘Does that young lady know Mr。 Darcy？’
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Elizabeth coloured； and said—‘A little。’
‘And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman；
Ma’am？’
‘Yes； very handsome。’
‘I am sure I know none so handsome； but in the gallery up
stairs you will see a finer； larger picture of him than this。 This
room was my late master’s favourite room； and these miniatures
are just as they used to be then。 He was very fond of them。’
This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr。 Wickham’s being among
them。
Mrs。 Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss
Darcy； drawn when she was only eight years old。
‘And is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother？’ said Mr。
Gardiner。
‘Oh！ yes—the handsomest young lady that ever was seen and so
accomplished！—She plays and sings all day long。 In the next room
is a new instrument just come down for her—a present from my
master； she comes here to…morrow with him。’
Mr。 Gardiner； whose manners were easy and pleasant；
encouraged her communicativeness by his questions and remarks；
Mrs。 Reynolds； either from pride or attachment； had evidently
great pleasure in talking of her master and his sister。
‘Is your master much at Pemberley in the course of the year？’
‘Not so much as I could wish； Sir； but I dare say he may spend
half his time here； and Miss Darcy is always down for the summer
months。’
‘Except；’ thought Elizabeth； ‘when she goes to Ramsgate。’
‘If your master would marry； you might see more of him。’
‘Yes； Sir； but I do not know when that will be。 I do not know
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who is good enough for him。’
Mr。 and Mrs。 Gardiner smiled。 Elizabeth could not help saying；
‘It is very much to his credit； I am sure； that you should think so。’
‘I say no more than the truth； and what every body will say that
knows him；’ replied the other。 Elizabeth thought this was going
pretty far； and she listened with increasing astonishment as the
housekeeper added； ‘I have never had a cross word from him in
my life； and I have known him ever since he was four years old。’
This was praise； of all others most extraordinary； most opposite
to her ideas。 That he was not a good…tempered man； had been her
firmest opinion。 Her keenest attention was awakened； she longed
to hear more； and was grateful to her uncle for saying；
‘There are very few people of whom so much can be said。 You
are lucky in having such a master。’
‘Yes； Sir； I know I am。 If I was to go through the world； I could
not meet with a better。 But I have always observed； that they who
are good…natured when children； are good…natured when they
grow up； and he was always the sweetest…tempered； most
generous…hearted； boy in the world。’
Elizabeth almost stared at her。—‘Can this be Mr。 Darcy！’
thought she。
‘His father was an excellent man；’ said Mrs。 Gardiner。
‘Yes； Ma’am； that he was indeed； and his son will be just like
him—just as affable to the poor。’
Elizabeth listened； wondered； doubted； and was impatient for
more。 Mrs。 Reynolds could interest her on no other point。 She
related the subject of the pictures； the dimensions of the rooms；
and the price of the furniture； in vain。 Mr。 Gardiner； highly
amused by the kind of family prejudice； to which he attributed her
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excessive commendation of her master； soon led again to the
subject； and she dwelt with energy on his many merits； as they
proceeded together up the great staircase。
‘He is the best landlord； and the best master；’ said she； ‘that
ever lived。 Not like the wild young men now…a…days； who think of
nothing but themselves。 There is not one of his tenants or servants
but what will give him a good name。 Some people call him proud；
but I am sure I never saw any thing of it。 To my fancy； it is only
because he does not rattle away like other young men。’
‘In what an amiable light does this place him！’ thought
Elizabeth。
‘This fine account of him；’ whispered her aunt； as they walked；
‘is not quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend。’
‘Perhaps we might be deceived。’
‘That is not very likely； our authority was too good。’
On reaching the spacious lobby above； they were shewn into a
very pretty sitting…room； lately fitted up with greater elegance and
lightness than the apartments below； and were informed that it
was but just done； to give pleasure to Miss Darcy； who had taken a
liking to the room； when last at Pemberley。
‘He is certainly a good brother；’ said Elizabeth； as she walked
towards one of the windows。
Mrs。 Reynolds anticipated Miss Darcy’s delight； when she
should enter the room。 ‘And this is always the way with him；’ she
added。—‘Whatever can give his sister any pleasure； is sure to be
done in a moment。 There is nothing he would not do for her。’
The picture gallery； and two or three of the principal bedrooms；
were all that remained to be shewn。 In the former were many good
paintings； but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art； and from such as
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had been already visible below； she had willingly turned to look at
some drawings of Miss Darcy’s； in crayons； whose subjects were
usually more interesting； and also more intelligible。
In the gallery there were many family portraits； but they could
have little to fix the attention of a stranger。 Elizabeth walked on in
quest of the only face whose features would be known to her。 At
last it arrested her—and she beheld a striking resemblance of Mr。
Darcy； with such a smile over the face； as she remembered to have
sometimes seen； when he looked at her。 She stood several minutes
before the picture in earnest contemplation； and returned to it
again before they quitted the gallery。 Mrs。 Reynolds informed
them； that it had been taken in his fath