Chapter 43

by Jane Austen

　　Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearanceof Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when atlength they turned in at the lodge, her spirits were in a highflutter.The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground.They entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for sometime through a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent.Elizabeth's mind was too full for conversation, but she saw andadmired every remarkable spot and point of view. Theygradually ascended for half-a-mile, and then found themselvesat the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased,and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situatedon the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with someabruptness wound. It was a large, handsome stone building,standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of highwoody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importancewas swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance.Its banks were neither formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabethwas delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature haddone more, or where natural beauty had been so littlecounteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warmin their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to bemistress of Pemberley might be something!They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to thedoor; and, while examining the nearer aspect of the house, allher apprehension of meeting its owner returned. She dreadedlest the chambermaid had been mistaken. On applying to seethe place, they were admitted into the hall; and Elizabeth, asthey waited for the housekeeper, had leisure to wonder at herbeing where she was.The housekeeper came; a respectable-looking elderly woman,much less fine, and more civil, than she had any notion offinding her. They followed her into the dining-parlour. It wasa large, well proportioned room, handsomely fitted up.Elizabeth, after slightly surveying it, went to a window to enjoyits prospect. The hill, crowned with wood, which they haddescended, receiving increased abruptness from the distance,was a beautiful object. Every disposition of the ground wasgood; and she looked on the whole scene, the river, the treesscattered on its banks and the winding of the valley, as far asshe could trace it, with delight. As they passed into otherrooms these objects were taking different positions; but fromevery window there were beauties to be seen. The rooms werelofty and handsome, and their furniture suitable to the fortuneof its proprietor; but Elizabeth saw, with admiration of his taste,that it was neither gaudy nor uselessly fine; with less ofsplendour, and more real elegance, than the furniture of Rosings."And of this place," thought she, "I might have been mistress!With these rooms I might now have been familiarly acquainted!Instead of viewing them as a stranger, I might have rejoiced inthem as my own, and welcomed to them as visitors my uncleand aunt. But no," recollecting herself-- "that could never be;my uncle and aunt would have been lost to me; I should nothave been allowed to invite them."This was a lucky recollection-- it saved her from somethingvery like regret.She longed to inquire of the housekeeper whether her masterwas really absent, but had not the courage for it. At lengthhowever, the question was asked by her uncle; and she turnedaway with alarm, while Mrs. Reynolds replied that he was,adding, "But we expect him to-morrow, with a large party offriends." How rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own journeyhad not by any circumstance been delayed a day!Her aunt now called her to look at a picture. She approachedand saw the likeness of Mr. Wickham, suspended, amongstseveral other miniatures, over the mantelpiece. Her aunt askedher, smilingly, how she liked it. The housekeeper came forward,and told them it was a picture of a young gentleman, the son ofher late master's steward, who had been brought up by him athis own expense. "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 Elizabethcould not return it."And that," said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of theminiatures, "is my master-- and very like him. It was drawn atthe 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 respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on thisintimation of her knowing her master."Does that young lady know Mr. Darcy?"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 galleryupstairs you will see a finer, larger picture of him than this.This room was my late master's favourite room, and theseminiatures are just as they used to be then. He was very fondof them."This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr. Wickham's being amongthem.Mrs. Reynolds then directed their attention to one of MissDarcy, drawn when she was only eightyears old."And is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?" said Mrs.Gardiner."Oh! yes-- the handsomest young lady that ever was seen; andso accomplished!-- She plays and sings all day long. In the nextroom is a new instrument just come down for her-- a presentfrom my master; she comes here to-morrow with him."Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were very easy and pleasant,encouraged her communicativeness by his questions andremarks: Mrs. Reynolds, either by pride or attachment, hadevidently 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 spendhalf his time here; and Miss Darcy is always down for thesummer 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 notknow 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 thinkso.""I say no more than the truth, and everybody will say thatknows him," replied the other. Elizabeth thought this wasgoing pretty far; and she listened with increasing astonishmentas the housekeeper added, "I have never known a cross wordfrom him in my life, and I have known him ever since he wasfour years old."This was praise, of all others most extraordinary, most oppositeto her ideas. That he was not a good-tempered man had beenher firmest opinion. Her keenest attention was awakened; shelonged to hear more, and was grateful to her uncle for saying:"There are very few people of whom so much can be said. Youare lucky in having such a master.""Yes, sir, I know I am. If I were to go through the world, Icould not meet with a better. But I have always observed, thatthey who are good-natured when children, are good-naturedwhen 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 likehim-- just as affable to the poor."Elizabeth listened, wondered, doubted, and was impatient formore. Mrs. Reynolds could interest her on no other point. Sherelated the subjects of the pictures, the dimensions of the rooms,and the price of the furniture, in vain, Mr. Gardiner, highlyamused by the kind of family prejudice to which he attributedher excessive commendation of her master, soon led again tothe subject; and she dwelt with energy on his many merits asthey proceeded together up the great staircase."He is the best landlord, and the best master," said she, "thatever lived; not like the wild young men nowadays, who think ofnothing but themselves. There is not one of his tenants orservants but will give him a good name. Some people call himproud; but I am sure I never saw anything of it. To my fancy, itis only because he does not rattle away like other young men.""In what an amiable light does this place him!" thoughtElizabeth."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 shown into avery pretty sitting-room, lately fitted up with greater eleganceand lightness than the apartments below; and were informed thatit was but just done to give pleasure to Miss Darcy, who hadtaken a liking to the room when last at Pemberley."He is certainly a good brother," said Elizabeth, as she walkedtowards one of the windows.Mrs. Reynolds anticipated Miss Darcy's delight, when sheshould enter the room. "And this is always the way with him,"she added. "Whatever can give his sister any pleasure is sure tobe done in a moment. There is nothing he would not do forher."The picture-gallery, and two or three of the principal bedrooms,were all that remained to be shown. In the former were manygood paintings; but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art; and fromsuch as had been already visible below, she had willingly turnedto look at some drawings of Miss Darcy's, in crayons, whosesubjects were usually more interesting, and also more intelligible.In the gallery there were many family portraits, but they couldhave little to fix the attention of a stranger. Elizabeth walked inquest of the only face whose features would be known to her.At last it arrested her-- and she beheld a striking resemblance toMr. Darcy, with such a smile over the face as she rememberedto have sometimes seen when he looked at her. She stoodseveral 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 father'slifetime.There was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth's mind, a moregentle sensation towards the original than she had ever felt atthe height of their acquaintance. The commendation bestowedon him by Mrs. Reynolds was of no trifling nature. What praiseis more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant? As abrother, a landlord, a master, she considered how many people'shappiness were in his guardianship!-- how much of pleasure orpain was it in his power to bestow!-- how much of good or evilmust be done by him! Every idea that had been brought forwardby the housekeeper was favourable to his character, and as shestood before the canvas on which he was represented, and fixedhis eyes upon herself, she thought of his regard with a deepersentiment of gratitude than it had ever raised before; sheremembered its warmth, and softened its impropriety ofexpression.When all of the house that was open to general inspection hadbeen seen, they returned downstairs, and, taking leave of thehousekeeper, were consigned over to the gardener, who metthem at the hall-door.As they walked across the hall towards the river, Elizabethturned back to look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also, andwhile the former was conjecturing as to the date of the building,the owner of it himself suddenly came forward from the road,which led behind it to the stables.They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt washis appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Theireyes instantly met, and the cheeks of both were overspread withthe deepest blush. He absolutely started, and for a momentseemed immovable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself,advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth, if not interms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility.She had instinctively turned away; but stopping on his approach,received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible tobe overcome. Had his first appearance, or his resemblance tothe picture they had just been examining, been insufficient toassure the other two that they now saw Mr. Darcy, thegardener's expression of surprise, on beholding his master,must immediately have told it. They stood a little aloof whilehe was talking to their niece, who, astonished and confused,scarcely dared lift her eyes to his face, and knew not whatanswer she returned to his civil inquiries after her family.Amazed at the alteration of his manner since they last parted,every sentence that he uttered was increasing herembarrassment; and every idea of the impropriety of herbeing found there recurring to her mind, the few minutes inwhich they continued were some of the most uncomfortable inher life. Nor did he seem much more at ease; when he spoke,his accent had none of its usual sedateness; and he repeated hisinquiries as to the time of her having left Longbourn, and of herhaving stayed in Derbyshire, so often, and in so hurried a way,as plainly spoke the distraction of his thoughts.At length every idea seemed to fail him; and, after standing afew moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollectedhimself, and took leave.The others then joined her, and expressed admiration of hisfigure; but Elizabeth heard not a word, and wholly engrossedby her own feelings, followed them in silence. She wasoverpowered by shame and vexation. Her coming there wasthe most unfortunate, the most ill-judged thing in the world!How strange it must appear to him! In what a disgraceful lightmight it not strike so vain a man! It might seem as if she hadpurposely thrown herself in his way again! Oh! why did shecome? Or, why did he thus come a day before he was expected?Had they been only ten minutes sooner, they should have beenbeyond the reach of his discrimination; for it was plain that hewas that moment arrived-- that moment alighted from his horseor his carriage. She blushed again and again over theperverseness of the meeting. And his behaviour, so strikinglyaltered-- what could it mean? That he should even speak to herwas amazing!-- but to speak with such civility, to inquire afterher family! Never in her life had she seen his manners so littledignified, never had he spoken with such gentleness as on thisunexpected meeting. What a contrast did it offer to his lastaddress in Rosings Park, when he put his letter into her hand!She knew not what to think, or how to account for it.They had now entered a beautiful walk by the side of the water,and every step was bringing forward a nobler fall of ground, ora finer reach of the woods to which they were approaching; butit was some time before Elizabeth was sensible of any of it; and,though she answered mechanically to the repeated appeals ofher uncle and aunt, and seemed to direct her eyes to suchobjects as they pointed out, she distinguished no part of thescene. Her thoughts were all fixed on that one spot ofPemberley House, whichever it might be, where Mr. Darcy thenwas. She longed to know what at the moment was passing inhis mind-- in what manner he thought of her, and whether, indefiance of everything, she was still dear to him. Perhaps hehad been civil only because he felt himself at ease; yet there hadbeen that in his voice which was not like ease. Whether hehad felt more of pain or of pleasure in seeing her she could nottell, but he certainly had not seen her with composure.At length, however, the remarks of her companions on herabsence of mind aroused her, and she felt the necessity ofappearing more like herself.They entered the woods, and bidding adieu to the river for awhile, ascended some of the higher grounds; when, in spotswhere the opening of the trees gave the eye power to wander,were many charming views of the valley, the opposite hills,with the long range of woods overspreading many, andoccasionally part of the stream. Mr. Gardiner expressed a wishof going round the whole park, but feared it might be beyond awalk. With a triumphant smile they were told that it was tenmiles round. It settled the matter; and they pursued theaccustomed circuit; which brought them again, after some time,in a descent among hanging woods, to the edge of the water,and one of its narrowest parts. They crossed it by a simplebridge, in character with the general air of the scene; it was aspot less adorned than any they had yet visited; and the valley,here contracted into a glen, allowed room only for the stream,and a narrow walk amidst the rough coppice-wood whichbordered it. Elizabeth longed to explore its windings; but whenthey had crossed the bridge, and perceived their distance fromthe house, Mrs. Gardiner, who was not a great walker, could gono farther, and thought only of returning to the carriage asquickly as possible. Her niece was, therefore, obliged to submit,and they took their way towards the house on the opposite sideof the river, in the nearest direction; but their progress wasslow, for Mr. Gardiner, though seldom able to indulge the taste,was very fond of fishing, and was so much engaged in watchingthe occasional appearance of some trout in the water, andtalking to the man about them, that he advanced but little.Whilst wandering on in this slow manner, they were againsurprised, and Elizabeth's astonishment was quite equal to whatit had been at first, by the sight of Mr. Darcy approaching them,and at no great distance. The walk here being here lesssheltered than on the other side, allowed them to see him beforethey met. Elizabeth, however astonished, was at least moreprepared for an interview than before, and resolved to appearand to speak with calmness, if we really intended to meet them.For a few moments, indeed, she felt that he would probablystrike into some other path. The idea lasted while a turning inthe walk concealed him from their view; the turning past, hewas immediately before them. With a glance, she saw that hehad lost none of his recent civility; and, to imitate hispoliteness, she began as they to admire the beauty of the place;but she had not got beyond the words "delightful," and"charming," when some unlucky recollections obtruded, and shefancied that praise of Pemberley from her might bemischievously construed. Her colour changed, and she said nomore.Mrs. Gardiner was standing a little behind; and on her pausing,he asked her if she would do him the honour of introducing himto her friends. This was a stroke of civility for which she wasquite unprepared; and she could hardly suppress a smile at hisbeing now seeking the acquaintance of some of those verypeople against whom his pride had revolted in his offer toherself. "What will be his surprise," thought she, "when heknows who they are? He takes them now for people offashion."The introduction, however, was immediately made; and as shenamed their relationship to herself, she stole a sly look at him,to see how he bore it, and was not without the expectation ofhis decamping as fast as he could from such disgracefulcompanions. That he was surprised by the connection wasevident; he sustained it, however, with fortitude, and so far fromgoing away, turned his back with them, and entered intoconversation with Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth could not but bepleased, could not but triumph. It was consoling that he shouldknow she had some relations for whom there was no need toblush. She listened most attentively to all that passed betweenthem, and gloried in every expression, every sentence of heruncle, which marked his intelligence, his taste, or his goodmanners.The conversation soon turned upon fishing; and she heard Mr.Darcy invite him, with the greatest civility, to fish there as oftenas he chose while he continued in the neighbourhood, offeringat the same time to supply him with fishing tackle, and pointingout those parts of the stream where there was usually mostsport. Mrs. Gardiner, who was walking arm-in-arm withElizabeth, gave her a look expressive of wonder. Elizabethsaid nothing, but it gratified her exceedingly; the complimentmust be all for herself. Her astonishment, however, wasextreme, and continually was she repeating, "Why is he soaltered? From what can it proceed? It cannot be for me-- itcannot be for my sake that his manners are thus softened. Myreproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as this. Itis impossible that he should still love me."After walking some time in this way, the two ladies in front, thetwo gentlemen behind, on resuming their places, afterdescending to the brink of the river for the better inspection ofsome curious water-plant, there chanced to be a little alteration.It originated in Mrs. Gardiner, who, fatigued by the exercise ofthe morning, found Elizabeth's arm inadequate to her support,and consequently preferred her husband's. Mr. Darcy took herplace by her niece, and they walked on together. After a shortsilence, the lady first spoke. She wished him to know that shehad been assured of his absence before she came to the place,and accordingly began by observing, that his arrival had beenvery unexpected-- "for your housekeeper," she added,"informed us that you would certainly not be here tillto-morrow; and indeed, before we left Bakewell, weunderstood that you were not immediately expected in thecountry." He acknowledged the truth of it all, and said thatbusiness with his steward had occasioned his coming forward afew hours before the rest of the party with whom he had beentravelling. "They will join me early to-morrow ," he continued,"and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance withyou-- Mr. Bingley and his sisters."Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts wereinstantly driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name hadbeen the last mentioned between them; and, if she might judgeby his complexion, his mind was not very differently engaged."There is also one other person in the party," he continued aftera pause, "who more particularly wishes to be known to you.Will you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sisterto your acquaintance during your stay at Lambton?"The surprise of such an application was great indeed; it was toogreat for her to know in what manner she acceded to it. Sheimmediately felt that whatever desire Miss Darcy might have ofbeing acquainted with her must be the work of her brother, and,without looking farther, it was satisfactory; it was gratifying toknow that is resentment had not made him think really ill of her.They now walked on in silence, each of them deep in thought.Elizabeth was not comfortable; that was impossible; but she wasflattered and pleased. His wish of introducing his sister to herwas a compliment of the highest kind. They soon outstripped theothers, and when they had reached the carriage, Mr. and Mrs.Gardiner were half a quarter of a mile behind.He then asked her to walk into the house-- but she declaredherself not tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At sucha time much might have been said, and silence was veryawkward. She wanted to talk, but there seemed to be anembargo on every subject. At last she recollected that she hadbeen travelling, and they talked of Matlock and Dovedale withgreat perseverance. Yet time and her aunt moved slowly-- andher patience and her ideas were nearly worn our before thetete-a-tete was over. On Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's coming upthey were all pressed to go into the house and take somerefreshment; but this was declined, and they parted on eachside with utmost politeness. Mr. Darcy handed the ladies intothe carriage; and when it drove off, Elizabeth saw him walkingslowly towards the house.The observations of her uncle and aunt now began; and each ofthem pronounced him to be infinitely superior to anything theyhad expected. "He is perfectly well behaved, polite, andunassuming," said her uncle."There is something a little stately in him, to be sure," replied heraunt, "but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming. I cannow say with the housekeeper, that though some people maycall him proud, I have seen nothing of it.""I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us. It wasmore than civil; it was really attentive; and there was no necessityfor such attention. His acquaintance with Elizabeth was verytrifling.""To be sure, Lizzy," said her aunt, "he is not so handsome asWickham; or, rather, he has not Wickham's countenance, forhis features are perfectly good. But how came you to tell methat he was so disagreeable?"Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could; said that she hadliked him better when they had met in Kent than before, and thatshe 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 Ishall not take him at his word, as he might change his mindanother day, and warn me off his grounds."Elizabeth felt that they had entirely misunderstood his character,but said nothing."From what we have seen of him," continued Mrs. Gardiner, "Ireally should not have thought that he could have behaved in socruel a way by anybody as he has done by poor Wickham. Hehas not an ill-natured look. On the contrary, there is somethingpleasing about his mouth when he speaks. And there issomething of dignity in his countenance that would not give onean unfavourable idea of his heart. But, to be sure, the good ladywho showed us his house did give him a most flaming character!I could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes. But he is a liberalmaster, I suppose, and that in the eye of a servantcomprehends every virtue."Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something invindication of his behaviour to Wickham; and therefore gavethem to understand, in as guarded a manner as she could, thatby what she had heard from his relations in Kent, his actionswere capable of a very different construction; and that hischaracter was by no means so faulty, nor Wickham's so amiable,as they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In confirmationof this, she related the particulars of all the pecuniarytransactions in which they had been connected, without actuallynaming her authority, but stating as such as might be relied on.Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned; but as they werenow approaching the scene of her former pleasures, every ideagave way to the charm of recollection; and she was too muchengaged in pointing out to her husband all the interesting spotsin its environs to think of anything else. Fatigued as she hadbeen by the morning's walk they had no sooner dined than sheset off again in quest of her former acquaintance, and theevening was spent in the satisfactions of a intercourse renewedafter many years' discontinuance.The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leaveElizabeth much attention for any of these new friends; and shecould do nothing but think, and think with wonder, of Mr.Darcy's civility, and, above all, of his wishing her to beacquainted with his sister.