第96章

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Elizabeth had settled it that Mr.Darcy would brg his sister to visit her the very day after her reachg Pemberley; and was consequently resolved not to be out of sight of the n the whole of that morng. But her conclusion was false; for on the very morng after their own arrival at Lambton, these visitors came.They had been walkg about the place with some of their new friends, and were just returng to the n to dress themselves for dg with the same family,when the sound of a carriage drew them to a wdow, and they saw a gentleman and a lady a curricle drivg up the street.Elizabeth immediately recognizg the livery, guessed what it meant, and imparted no small degree of her surprise to her relations by acquatg them with the honour which she expected. Her uncle and aunt were all amazement; and the embarrassment of her manner as she spoke, joed to the circumstance itself, and many of the circumstances of the precedg day,opened to them a new idea on the busess.Nothg had ever suggested it before, but they now felt that there was no other way of accountg for such attentions from such a quarter than by supposg a partiality for their niece.While these newly-born notions were passg their heads, the perturbation of Elizabeth''s feelgs was at every moment creasg. 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 her favour;and,more than commonly anxious to please,she naturally suspected that every power of pleasg would fail her.

She retreated from the wdow,fearful of beg seen;and as she walked up and down the room,endeavourg to compose herself, saw such looks of quirg surprise her uncle and aunt as made everythg worse.

Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable troduction took place.With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquatance was at least as much embarrassed as herself. Sce her beg at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedgly proud; but the observation of a very few mutes convced her that she was only exceedgly shy. She found it difficult to obta 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 her face, and her manners were perfectly unassumg and gentle.Elizabeth, who had expected to fd her as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much relieved by discerng such different feelgs.

They had not been long together before Mr.Darcy told her that Bgley was also comg to wait on her;and she had barely time to express her satisfaction,and prepare for such a visitor,when Bgley''s quick step was heard on the stairs,and a moment he entered the room.All Elizabeth''s anger agast him had been long done away;but had she still felt any,it could hardly have stood its ground agast the unaffected cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeg her aga. He quired 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. Garder he was scarcely a less terestg personage than to herself.They had long wished to see him.The whole party before them,deed,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 quiry;and they soon drew from those quiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew what it was to love.Of the lady''s sensations they remaed a little doubt;but that the gentleman was overflowg with admiration was evident enough.

Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do.She wanted to ascerta the feelgs of each of her visitors; she wanted to compose her own,and to make herself agreeable to all;and 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 her favour. Bgley was ready,Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determed,to be pleased.

In seeg Bgley,her thoughts naturally flew to her sister;and, oh!how ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed 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 tryg to trace a resemblance.But,though this might be imagary,she could not be deceived as to his behaviour to Miss Darcy,who had been set up as a rival to Jane. No look appeared on either side that spoke particular regard. Nothg occurred between them that could justify the hopes of his sister. On this pot she was soon satisfied; and two or three little circumstances occurred ere they parted,which, her anxious terpretation,denoted a recollection of Jane not untctured by tenderness,and a wish of sayg more that might lead to the mention of her,had he dared. He observed to her,at a moment when the others were talkg together,and a tone which had somethg of real regret,that it“was a very long time sce he had had the pleasure of seeg her;”and,before she could reply,he added,“It is above eight months. We have not met sce the 26th of November,when we were all dancg together at Netherfield.”

Elizabeth was pleased to fd his memory so exact; and he afterwards took occasion to ask her,when unattended to by any of the rest,whether all her sisters were at Longbourn.There was not much the question,nor the precedg remark;but there was a look and a manner which gave them meang.