第91章[第3页/共5页]

They descended the hill,crossed the bridge,and drove to the door;and,while examining the nearer aspect of the house,all her apprehension of meeting its owner returned.She dreaded lest the chambermaid had been mistaken.On applying to see the place, they were admitted into the hall; and Elizabeth, as they waited for the housekeeper,had leisure to wonder at her being where she was.

Mrs.Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile,but Elizabeth could not return it.

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

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

“And that,”said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of the miniatures,“is my master―and very like him.It was drawn at the same time as the other―about eight years ago.”

Mrs. Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss Darcy,drawn when she was only eight years old.

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

The park was very large,and contained great variety of ground. They entered it in one of its lowest points,and drove for some time through a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent.

She longed to inquire of the housekeeper whether her master was really absent, but had not the courage for it. At length however, the question was asked by her uncle; and she turned away with alarm,while Mrs.Reynolds replied that he was,adding,“But we expect him to-morrow, with a large party of friends.”How rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own journey had not by any circumstance been delayed a day!