，最快更新傲慢与偏见最新章节！“If your master would marry,you might see morehim.”
“Yes,sir;but Inot know when that will be.Inot know whogood enough for him.”
mr.an could not help saying,“Itvery muchhis credit,Isure,that you should think so.”
“I saymore than the truth, and everybody will say that knows him,”repliedthought this was going pretty far;and she listened with increasing astonishmentthe housekeeper added,“I have never knowross word from himmy life, and I have known him ever sincewas four years old.”
This was praise,of all others most extraordinary,most oppositehewas noood-tempered man had been her firmes keenest attention was awakened;she longedhear more,and was gratefulher uncle for saying:
“There are very few peoplewhommuch care luckyhaving sucaster.”
“Yes,sir,I know I am.If I werego through the world,I could not meet with I have always observed, that they who are good-natured when children, are good-natured when they grow up; andwas always the sweetest-tempered, most generous-hearted boythe world.”
Elizabeth almost staredher.“Can thismr. darcy?”thought she.
“His father wasexcellent man,”sai
“Yes, ma'am, thatwas indeed; and his son willjust like him—justaffablethe poor.”
Elizabeth listened,wondered,doubted,and was impatientcould interest herno othe related the subjectsthe pictures,the dimensionsthe rooms, and the pricethe furniture, i, highly amusedthe kindfamily prejudicewhichattributed her excessive mendationher master,soon led againthe subject; and she dwelt with energyhis many meritsthey proceeded togetherthe great staircase.
“Hethe best landlord,and the best master,”said she,“that ever lived; not like the wild young men nowadays, who thinknothingis not onehis tenantsservants but what will give hioo people call him proud;but Isure I never saw ,is only becausedoes not rattle away like other young men.”
“In whatamiable light does this place him!”thought Elizabeth.
“This fine accounthim,”whispered her auntthey walked,“is not quite consistent with his behaviourour poor friend.”
“Perhapsmightdeceived.”
“Thatnot very likely;our authority was too good.”
on reaching the spacious lobby above they were shown intery pretty sitting-room,lately fittedwith greater elegance and lightness than the apartments below;and were informed thatwas but just doo give pleasuremiss darcy,who had takeikingthe room when lastPemberley.
“Hecertainlood brother,”said Elizabeth,as she walked towards onethe windows.
mrs. Reynolds anticipated miss darcy's delight, when she should enter the room.“And thisalways the way with him,”she added.“whatever can give his sister any pleasuresurebe donenothingwould notfor her.”
The picture-gallery,and twothreethe principal bedrooms, were all that remainedb the former were many good paintings;but Elizabeth knew nothingthe art;and from suchhad been already visible below,she had willingly turnedlooksome drawingsmiss 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 littlefix the attention walkedquestthe only face whose features wouldknowastarrested her—and she beheltriking resemblancemr. darcy,with sucmile over the faceshe rememberedhave sometimes seen whenlooketood several minutes before the picture,in earnest contemplation,and returnedit again before they quittedinformed them thathad been takenhis father's lifetime.
There was certainlythis moment,in Elizabeth's mind,a more gentle sensation towards the original than she had ever feltthe heightthei mendation bestowedhiasno triflin praisemore valuable than the praisean intelligent servant?Arother,a landlord,a master,she considered how many people's happiness werehis guardianship!—how muchpleasurepain wasin his powerbestow!—how muchgoodevil mustdonehim! Every idea that had been brought forwardthe housekeeper was favourablehis character,andshe stood before the canvaswhichwas represented, and fixed his eyes upon herself, she thoughthis regard witeeper sentimentgratitude thanhad ever raised before;she remembered its warmth, and softened its improprietyexpression.
when allthe house that was opengeneral inspection had been seen, they returned downstairs, and, taking leavethe housekeeper,were consigned overthe gardener,who met themthe hall-door.
As they walked across the lawn towards the river, Elizabeth turned backlook again;her uncle and aunt stopped also,and while the former was conjecturingto the datethe building, the ownerit himself suddenly came forward from the road, which led behindto the stables.
They were within twenty yardseach other, andabrupt was his appearance, thatwas impossibleavoideyes instantly met,and the cheeksboth were overspread with the deepes absolutely started,and fooment seemed immovable from surprise;but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spokeElizabeth,nottermsperfect posure,at leastperfect civility.