pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第59部分
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she was again applied to； could readily answer； and with a proper
air of indifference； that she had not really any dislike to the
scheme。
To Pemberley； therefore； they were to go。
END OF VOLUME TWO
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VOLUME III
CHAPTER I
lizabeth； as they drove along； watched for the first
appearance of Pemberley Woods with some perturbation；
E
and when at length they turned in at the lodge； her spirits
were in a high flutter。
The park was very large； and contained great variety of ground。
They entered it in one of its lowest points； and drove for some time
through a beautiful wood； stretching over a wide extent。
Elizabeth’s mind was too full for conversation； but she saw and
admired every remarkable spot and point of view。 They gradually
ascended for half a mile； and then found themselves at the top of a
considerable eminence； where the wood ceased； and the eye was
instantly caught by Pemberley House； situated on the opposite
side of a valley； into which the road with some abruptness wound。
It was a large； handsome； stone building； standing well on rising
ground； and backed by a ridge of high woody hills；—and in front； a
stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater； but
without any artificial appearance。 Its banks were neither formal；
nor falsely adorned。 Elizabeth was delighted。 She had never seen a
place for which nature had done more； or where natural beauty
had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste。 They were all
of them warm in their admiration； and at that moment she felt；
that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something！
They descended the hill； crossed the bridge； and drove to the
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door； and； while examining the nearer aspect of the house； all her
apprehensions of meeting its owner returned。 She dreaded lest
the chambermaid had been mistaken。 On applying to see the
place； they were admitted into the hall； and Elizabeth； as they
waited for the housekeeper； had leisure to wonder at her being
where she was。
The housekeeper came： a respectable…looking； elderly woman；
much less fine； and more civil； than she had any notion of finding
her。 They followed her into the dining…parlour。 It was a large； well…
proportioned room； handsomely fitted up。 Elizabeth； after slightly
surveying it； went to a window to enjoy its prospect。 The hill；
crowned with wood； from which they had descended； receiving
increased abruptness from the distance； was a beautiful object。
Every disposition of the ground was good； and she looked on the
whole scene； the river； the trees scattered on its banks； and the
winding of the valley； as far as she could trace it； with delight。 As
they passed into other rooms； these objects were taking different
positions； but from every window there were beauties to be seen。
The rooms were lofty and handsome； and their furniture suitable
to the fortune of their proprietor； but Elizabeth saw with
admiration of his taste； that it was neither gaudy nor uselessly
fine； with less of splendour； 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 in
them as my own； and welcomed to them as visitors my uncle and
aunt。—But no；’ recollecting herself； ‘that could never be： my uncle
and aunt would have been lost to me； I should not have been
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allowed to invite them。’
This was a lucky recollection—it saved her from something like
regret。
She longed to enquire of the housekeeper； whether her master
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…hear
