pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第60部分
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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 father’s life time。
There was certainly at this moment； in Elizabeth’s mind； a
more gentle sensation towards the original； than she had ever felt
in the height of their acquaintance。 The commendation bestowed
on him by Mrs。 Reynolds was of no trifling nature。 What praise is
more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant？ As a
brother； a landlord； a master； she considered how many people’s
happiness were in his guardianship！—How much of pleasure or
pain it was in his power to bestow！—How much of good or evil
must be done by him！ Every idea that had been brought forward
by the housekeeper was favourable to his character； and as she
stood before the canvas； on which he was represented； and fixed
his eyes upon herself； she thought of his regard with a deeper
sentiment of gratitude than it had ever raised before； she
remembered its warmth； and softened its impropriety of
expression。
When all of the house that was open to general inspection had
been seen； they returned down stairs； and taking leave of the
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housekeeper； were consigned over to the gardener； who met them
at the hall door。
As they walked across the lawn towards the river； Elizabeth
turned back to look again； her uncle and aunt stopped also； and
while 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
was his appearance； that it was impossible to avoid his sight。 Their
eyes instantly met； and the cheeks of each were overspread with
the deepest blush。 He absolutely started； and for a moment
seemed immoveable from surprise； but shortly recovering himself；
advanced towards the party； and spoke to Elizabeth； if not in
terms 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 to be overcome。 Had his first appearance； or his
resemblance to the picture they had just been examining； been
insufficient to assure the other two that they now saw Mr。 Darcy；
the gardener’s expression of surprise； on beholding his master；
must immediately have told it。 They stood a little aloof while he
was talking to their niece； who； astonished and confused； scarcely
dared lift her eyes to his face； and knew not what answer she
returned to his civil enquiries after her family。 Amazed at the
alteration in his manner since they last parted； every sentence that
he uttered was increasing her embarrassment； and every idea of
the impropriety of her being found there； recurring to her mind；
the few minutes in which they continued together； were some of
the most uncomfortable of her life。 Nor did he seem much more at
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ease； when he spoke； his accent had none of its usual sedateness；
and he repeated his enquiries as to the time of her having left
Longbourn； and of her stay 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 a
few moments without saying a word； he suddenly recollected
himself； and took leave。
The others then joined her； and expressed their admiration of
his figure； but Elizabeth heard not a word； and； wholly engrossed
by her own feelings； followed them in silence。 She was
overpowered by shame and vexation。 Her coming there was the
most unfortunate； the most ill…judged thing in the world！ How
strange must it appear to him！ In what a disgraceful light might it
not strike so vain a man！ It might seem as if she had purposely
thrown herself in his way again！ Oh！ why did she come？ or； why
did he thus come a day before he was expected？ Had they been
only ten minutes sooner； they should have been beyond the reach
of his discrimination； for it was plain that he was that moment
arrived； that moment alighted from his horse or his carriage。 She
blushed again and again over the perverseness of the meeting。
And his behaviour； so strikingly altered；—what could it mean？
That he should even speak to her was amazing！—but to speak with
such civility； to enquire after her family！ Never in her life had she
seen his manners so little dignified； never had he spoken with
such gentleness as on this unexpected meeting。 What a contrast
did it offer to his last address in Rosings Park； when he put his
letter into her hand！ She knew not what to think； nor how to
account for
