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time and her aunt moved slowly—and her patience and her ideas
were nearly worn out before the tête…à…tête was over。 On Mr。 and
Mrs。 Gardiner’s coming up； they were all pressed to go into the
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house and take some refreshment； but this was declined； and they
parted on each side with the utmost politeness。 Mr。 Darcy handed
the ladies into the carriage； and when it drove off； Elizabeth saw
him walking slowly towards the house。
The observations of her uncle and aunt now began and each of
them pronounced him to be infinitely superior to any thing they
had expected。 ‘He is perfectly well behaved； polite； and
unassuming；’ said her uncle。
‘There is something a little stately in him to be sure；’ replied
her aunt； ‘but it is confined to his air； and is not unbecoming。 I can
now say with the housekeeper； that though some people may call
him proud； I have seen nothing of it。’
‘I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us。 It was
more than civil； it was really attentive； and there was no necessity
for such attention。 His acquaintance with Elizabeth was very
trifling。’
‘To be sure。 Lizzy；’ said her aunt； ‘he is not so handsome as
Wickham； or rather he has not Wickham’s countenance； for his
features are perfectly good。 But how came you to tell us that he
was so disagreeable？’
Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could； said that she had
liked him better when they met in Kent than before； and that she
had never seen him so pleasant as this morning。
‘But perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities；’
replied her uncle。 ‘Your great men often are and therefore I shall
not take him at his word about fishing； as he might change his
mind another day； and warn me off his grounds。’
Elizabeth felt that they had entirely mistaken his character； but
said nothing。
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‘From what we have seen of him；’ continued Mrs。 Gardiner； ‘I
really should not have thought that he could have behaved in so
cruel a way by any body； as he has done by poor Wickham。 He has
not an ill…natured look。 On the contrary； there is something
pleasing about his mouth when he speaks。 And there is something
of dignity in his countenance； that would not give one an
unfavourable idea of his heart。 But to be sure； the good lady who
shewed us the house； did give him a most flaming character！ I
could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes。 But he is a liberal
master； I suppose； and that in the eye of a servant comprehends
every virtue。’
Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in
vindication of his behaviour to Wickham； and therefore gave them
to understand； in as guarded a manner as she could； that by what
she had heard from his relations in Kent； his actions were capable
of a very different construction； and that his character was by no
means so faulty； nor Wickham’s so amiable； as they had been
considered in Hertfordshire。 In confirmation of this； she related
the particulars of all the pecuniary transactions in which they had
been connected； without actually naming her authority； but
stating it to be such as might be relied on。
Mrs。 Gardiner was surprised and concerned； but as they were
now approaching the scene of her former pleasures； every idea
gave way to the charm of recollection； and she was too much
engaged in pointing out to her husband all the interesting spots in
its environs； to think of any thing else。 Fatigued as she had been
by the morning’s walk； they had no sooner dined than she set off
again in quest of her former acquaintance； and the evening was
spent in the satisfactions of an intercourse renewed after many
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years discontinuance。
The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave
Elizabeth much attention for any of these new friends； and she
could do nothing but think； and think with wonder； of Mr。 Darcy’s
civility； and above all； of his wishing her to be acquainted with his
sister。
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CHAPTER II
lizabeth had settled it that Mr。 Darcy would bring his
sister to visit her； the very day after her reaching
E
Pemberley； and was consequently resolved not to be out
of sight of the inn the whole of that morning。 But her conclusion
was false； for on the very morning after their own arrival at
Lambton； these visitors came。 They had been walking about the
place with some of their new friends； and were just returned to the
inn to dress themselves for dining with the same family； when the
sound of a carriage drew them to a window； and they saw a
gentleman and lady in a curricle； driving up the street。 Elizabeth
immediately recognising the livery； guessed what it meant； and
imparted no small degree of surprise to her relations； by
acquainting them with the honour which she expected。 Her uncle
and aunt were all amazement； and the embarrassment of her
manner as she spoke； joined to the circumstance itself； and many
of the circumstances of the preceding day； opened to them a new
idea on the business。 Nothing had ever suggested it before； but
they now felt that there was no other way of accounting for such
attentions from such a quarter； than by supposing a partiality for
their niece。 While these newly…born notions were passing in their
heads； the perturbation of Elizabeth’s feelings was every moment
increasing。 She was quite amazed at her own discomposure； but
amongst other causes of disquiet； she dreaded lest the partiality of
the brother should have said too much in her favour； and more
than commonly anxious to please； she naturally suspected that
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every power of pleasing would fail her。
She retreated from the window； fearful of being seen and as she
walked up and down the room； endeavouring to compose herself；
saw such looks of enquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt； as
made every thing worse。
Miss Darcy and her brother appeared； and this formidable
introduction took place。 With astonishment did Elizabeth see； that
her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as
herself。 Since her being at Lambton； she had heard that Miss
Darcy was exceedingly proud； but the observation of a very few
minutes convinced her； that she was only exceedingly shy。 She
found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a
monosyllable。
Miss Darcy was tall； and on a larger scale than Elizabeth； and；
though little more than sixteen； her figure was formed； and her
appearance womanly and graceful。 She was less handsome than
her brother； but there was sense and good humour in her face；
and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle。
Elizabeth； who had expected to find in her as acute and
unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr。 Darcy had been； was
much