"But perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities," replied her uncle. "Your great men
often are; and therefore I shall not take him at his word, as he might change his mind another
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, "I really should not have thought
that he could have behaved in so cruel a way by anybody as he has done by poor Wickham. He
has not an ill-natured look. On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when
he speaks. And there is something of dignity in his countenance that would not give one an
unfavourable idea of his heart. But, to be sure, the good lady who showed us his house did give
him a most flaming character! I could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes. But he is a liberal
master, I suppose, and THAT in the eye of a servant comprehends every virtue."
Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of his behaviour to
Wickham; and therefore gave them to understand, in as guarded a manner as she could, that by
what she had heard from his relations in Kent, his actions were capable of a very different
construction; and that his character was by no means so faulty, nor Wickham's so amiable, as
they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In confirmation of this, she related the particulars of
all the pecuniary transactions in which they had been connected, without actually naming her
authority, but stating it to be such as such as might be relied on.
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Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned; but as they were now approaching the scene of her
former pleasures, every idea gave way to the charm of recollection; and she was too much
engaged in pointing out to her husband all the interesting spots in its environs to think of
anything else. Fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk they had no sooner dined than she
set off again in quest of her former acquaintance, and the evening was spent in the satisfactions
of a intercourse renewed after many years' discontinuance.
The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth much attention for any of
these new friends; and she could do nothing but think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's
civility, and, above all, of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister.
Chapter 44
Elizabeth had settled it that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit her the very day after her
reaching Pemberley; and was consequently resolved not to be out of sight of the inn the whole of
that morning. But her conclusion was false; for on the very morning after their arrival at
Lambton, these visitors came. They had been walking about the place with some of their new
friends, and were just returning to the inn to dress themselves for dining with the same family,
when the sound of a carriage drew them to a window, and they saw a gentleman and a lady in a
curricle driving up the street. Elizabeth immediately recognizing the livery, guessed what it
meant, and imparted no small degree of her surprise to her relations by acquainting them with the
honour which she expected. Her uncle and aunt were all amazement; and the embarrassment of
her manner as she spoke, joined to the circumstance itself, and many of the circumstances of the
preceding day, opened to them a new idea on the business. Nothing had ever suggested it before,
but they felt that there was no other way of accounting for such attentions from such a quarter
than by supposing a partiality for their niece. While these newly-born notions were passing in
their heads, the perturbation of Elizabeth's feelings was at every moment increasing. She was
quite amazed at her own discomposure; but amongst other causes of disquiet, she dreaded lest
the partiality of the brother should have said too much in her favour; and, more than commonly
anxious to please, she naturally suspected that every power of pleasing would fail her.
She retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as she walked up and down the room,
endeavouring to compose herself, saw such looks of inquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as
made everything worse.
Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took place. With
astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as
183
herself. Since her being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but
the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy. She
found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable.
Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and, though little more than sixteen,
her figure was formed, and her appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than
her brother; but there was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly
unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed
an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much relieved by discerning such different
feelings.
They had not long been together before Mr. Darcy told her that Bingley was also coming to wait
on her; and she had barely time to express her satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor, when
Bingley's quick step was heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered the room. All
Elizabeth's anger against him had been long done away; but had she still felt any, it could hardly
have stood its ground against the unaffected cordiality with which he expressed himself on
seeing her again. He inquired in a friendly, though general way, after her family, and looked and
spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage than to herself. They had
long wished to see him. The whole party before them, indeed, excited a lively attention. The
suspicions which had just arisen of Mr. Darcy and their niece directed their observation towards
each with an earnest though guarded inquiry; and they soon drew from those inquiries the full
conviction that one of them at least knew what it was to love. Of the lady's sensations they
remained a little in doubt; but that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was evident
enough.
Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do. She wanted to ascertain the feelings of each of her
visitors; she wanted to compose her own, and to make herself agreeable to all; and in the latter
object, where she feared most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she
endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley was ready, Georgiana
was eager, and Darcy determined, to be pleased.
In seeing Bingley, her thoughts naturally flew to her sister; and, oh! how ardently did she long to
know whether any of his were directed in a like manner. Sometimes she could fancy that he
talked less than on former occasions, and once or twice pleased herself with the notion that, as he
looked at her, he was trying to trace a resemblance. But, though this might be imaginary, she