第91章[第1页/共5页]

This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr.Wickham's being among them.

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

“Is your master much at Pemberley in the course of the year?”

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.

“Except,”thought Elizabeth,“when she goes to Ramsgate.”

Elizabeth coloured,and said:“A little.”

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 mantelpiece. Her aunt asked her, smilingly,how she liked it.The housekeeper came forward,and told them it was a picture of a young gentleman,the son of her late 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.”

“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.”