PRIDE & PREJUDICE: JANE AUSTEN: CHAPTER FORTY THREE

Elizabeth, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of Pemberly Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter.

The park was large with variety of ground.  They entered it in one of the lowest points, and drove for some time through a beautiful wood stretched over a wide area.

Elizabeth's mind was too full of conversation, but she saw 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 sight of Pemberly House, at the opposite side of the valley, into which the winding road goes.  A large handsome stone building standing on a raised ground, backed by a ridge of wooded hills, and in front, a  stream with natural banks.  Elizabeth was delighted.  She had never seen a place so blessed by nature.

They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the door; and while examining the nearer aspect of the house, the fear of meeting its owner was renewed.  She dreaded that the chambermaid had been mistaken. They were admitted into the hall, and waited for the housekeeper.

The housekeeper, an elderly respectable woman came, and 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 and looked out.  The wooded hill, the winding road along which they had descended, the river and the trees scattered on its banks provided a beautiful scenery.  As they passed into other rooms, they provided varied perspectives.  The rooms were lofty and handsome and their furniture elegant and suitable to the fortune of its proprietor. 

She longed to know whether the master was in, but her uncle inquired the same to Mrs Reynolds, the housekeeper.

"We expect him tomorrow, with a large party of friends," said Mrs Reynolds.  Elizabeth rejoiced that they were not late.

Her aunt now called her to look at a picture. She saw the likeness of Mr Wickham, suspended, among several other miniatures, over the mantelpiece. Her aunt asked her, smilingly, how she liked it.  Mrs Reynolds came forward, and told them that it was the picture of a young gentleman, the son of their last master's steward, who had been brought up by him at his 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 Elizabeth could not return it.

"And that," said Mrs Reynolds, pointing to another miniature, "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's a handsome face.  But, Lizzy, you can tell us whether it is like or not."

Mrs Reynolds respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase on this intimation of her knowing her master.

"Does the young lady know Mr Darcy?"

Elizabeth coloured, and said, "A little."

"And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman, ma'am?"

"Very, very handsome."

"I am sure I know none so handsome; but in the gallery upstairs, you will see a finer, larger picture of him than this.  This room was my last master's favourite room, and these miniatures are just they used to be then.  He was very fond of them."

This accounted to Elizabeth for 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 Mrs 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 tomorrow with him."

Mr Gardiner, with his easy, pleasant questions and remarks encouraged her, and she by pride or attachment had great pleasure in talking of her master and his sister.

"Is your master much at Pemberly?"

"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 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 everybody 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 known a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him ever since he was four years old."

This was a praise, of all others most extraordinary, most opposite to her ideas.  That he was not a good tempered man had been her firm opinion.

Her keen 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 were 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 hearted boy in the world."

Elizabeth almost stared at her.  Can this be Mr Darcy? She thought.

"His father was a 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. 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 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 nowadays, who think of nothing but themselves. There is not one of his tenants or servants but will give him a good name.  Some people call him proud; but I am sure I saw anything of it.  To my fancy, it is only because he does not rattle away like other young men."

In what amiable light does this place him, thought Elizabeth.

"This fine account of him," whispered her aunt as they walked, "is not consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend."

"Perhaps we might be deceived."

"That is not likely; our source was good."

The spacious lobby above.  They were shown into a very pretty sitting room, more elegant than the apartments below. It was the favourite room of Miss Darcy, and it was specially done for her by her brother.

In the picture gallery, there were many good paintings, but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art, but some drawings of Miss Darcy, in crayons, were interesting because of their subject. There were many family portraits, but the one which resembled Mr Darcy attracted her attention.  She stood looking at his figure on the canvas, contemplating the change in her own mood towards Mr Darcy in the light of revelations by Mrs Reynolds.

When all the house that was open to general view had been over, they took leave of the housekeeper, and returned downwards.  As they walked accross the hall towards the river, Elizabeth looked back, Mr Darcy suddenly appeared from the road leading to stables.

They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid him.  Their eyes instantly met, and both of them blushed. He was so surprised that he stood speechless for a moment.  He recovered himself, advanced towards them and spoke to Elizabeth.

She had instinctively turned away; but stopping on his approach, received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to overcome. The resemblance of the picture was enough for Mr and Mrs Gardiner to recognise the owner of the house. They stood aloof while he was talking to their niece, who astonished and confused, scarcely dared to look into his eyes, and not knew what to say to his civil inquiries after her family.  Amazed at the alteration of his manners since they last parted, she was embarassed and uncomfortable.  Nor did Mr Darcy seem to be at ease; when he spoke he lost his usual calmness and dignity; he made inquiries as to the time of her leaving Longbourn, and of her staying at Derbyshire.

At length every idea seemed to fail him; after standing a few moments without saying a word, he suddenly recollected himself, and took leave.

Then, Mr and Mrs Gardiner joined her, expressed admiration of his figure; but she heard not a word, followed them in silence.  She was overpowered by shame and vexation. Her coming there was unfortunate ill-judged event.  How strange it must appear to him!  It might seem as if she had purposefully thrown herself in his way.  She blushed again and again over the perverseness of the meeting.  And his behaviour so strikingly altered - what could it mean? That he should speak to her with such civility.  To inquire after her family!  

They had now entered a beautiful walk by the side of the water, and every step was bringing forward a nobler fall of ground, or a finer reach of the woods; it was some time before Elizabeth was sensible of it, and she answered mechanically to the questions of her uncle and aunt.  Her thoughts were all fixed on that one spot of Pemberly House, where Mr Darcy then was.  The remarks of her companions on her absence of mind aroused her, and she felt the necessity of appearing more like herself.

They entered the woods, and bidding adieu to the river for a while ascended some of the higher grounds; in some spots the opening of the trees gave charming views of the valley, long range of hills, most of them covered with green woods, and occasionally part of the stream. Mr Gardiner wished to go round the whole park, and they pursued the accustomed circuit. It brought them to a woodland on the side of a hill, and to the edge of water, and one of its narrow parts.  They crossed it by a simple bridge to a narrow part of the valley, and a narrow walk among the rough coppice wood which boardered it.  Elizabeth longed to explore its windings, but Mrs Gardiner was tired, and thought only of returning to the carriage.  So she was obliged to submit, and they took their way towards the house, on the opposite side of the river, in the nearest direction. But their progress was slow, for Mr Gardiner was very fond of fishing, and was so much engaged in watching the occasional appearance of some trout in the water, and talking to the man about them, that he advanced but a little.

While wandering on in this slow manner, Mr Darcy approached them.  He asked her if she would do him the honour of introducing him to her friends.  This was a stroke of civility for which she was quite unprepared; and she could hardly suppress a smile at his being now acquaintance of some of those very people against whom his pride had revolted in his offer to herself.

The introduction was immediately made.  And as she named their relationship to herself, she stole a sly look at him, to see how he bore it.  Mr Darcy had enough prejudices of his class, and Elizabeth had another set of prejudices of an inferiority acquired of her own class.  She listened most attentively to all the transactions that passed between her uncle and Mr Darcy and she was proud of her uncle's intelligence, taste or good manners.

The conversation then turned upon fishing, and she heard Mr Darcy invite him with civility, to fish there as often as he chose while he continued in the neighborhood, offering to supply him with fishing tackle, and pointing out those parts of the stream where there was usually sport.  Mrs Gardiner gave her a look of wonder, that gratified her.  But she was doubtful as to his love because of her reproof at Hunsford.  As they walked along the brink of water, it was disclosed that Mr Bingley and his sisters would be in the party that was soon going to take place.

"There is also one another person in the party," he continued, "who more particularly wishes to be known to you.  Will you allow me to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay at Lambton."

It was gratifying to know that his 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 was flattered and pleased.  His wish of introducing his sister to her was a highest compliment.  They soon outstripped the others, and when they reached the carriage, Mr and Mrs Gardiner were far behind.

He then asked her to walk into the house - but she declared herself  tired, and they stood together on the lawn.  She wanted to talk, but there seemed to be an embargo on every subject.  At last she recollected that she had been walking, and they talked of Matlock and Dove Dale with great perseverance.  Yet time and her aunt moved slowly.

On Mr and Mrs Gardiner coming up they were all pressed to go into the house and take some refreshment; but this was declined; they parted with utmost politeness.  Mr Darcy handed the ladies into the carriage; and when it drove off, Elizabeth saw him walking slowly towards the house.

Her uncle and aunt had a different perception of Mr Darcy. "He is perfectly well behaved, polite, and unassuming," said her uncle.

"There is something stately in him, to be sure," said 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."

After dinner they went to meet the former acquaintance of Mrs Garidner's and the evening was spent there.

THE END