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Chapter　I　of　Volume　III　（Chap。　43）
　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。
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。
Elizabeth's　mind　was　too　full　for　conversation；　but　she　saw　and　admired　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　eye　was　instantly　caught　by　Pemberley　House；　situated　on　the　opposite　side　of　a　valley；　into　which　the　road；　with　some　abruptness；　wound。　It　was　a　large；　handsome；　stone　building；　standing　well　on　rising　ground；　and　backed　by　a　ridge　of　high　woody　hills；　　and　in　front；　a　stream　of　some　natural　importance　was　swelled　into　greater；　but　without　any　artificial　appearance。　Its　banks　were　neither　formal；　nor　falsely　adorned。　Elizabeth　was　delighted。　She　had　never　seen　a　place　for　which　nature　had　done　more；　or　where　natural　beauty　had　been　so　little　counteracted　by　an　awkward　taste。　They　were　all　of　them　warm　in　their　admiration；　and　at　that　moment　she　felt　that　to　be　mistress　of　Pemberley　might　be　something！
They　descended　the　hill；　crossed　the　bridge；　and　drove　to　the　door；　and；　while　examining　the　nearer　aspect　of　the　house；　all　her　apprehensions　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。
The　housekeeper　came；　a　respectable…looking；　elderly　woman；　much　less　fine；　and　more　civil；　than　she　had　any　notion　of　finding　her。　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　to　enjoy　its　prospect。　The　hill；　crowned　with　wood；　from　which　they　had　descended；　receiving　increased　abruptness　from　the　distance；　was　a　beautiful　object。　Every　disposition　of　the　ground　was　good；　and　she　looked　on　the　whole　scene　　the　river；　the　trees　scattered　on　its　banks；　and　the　winding　of　the　valley；　as　far　as　she　could　trace　it　　with　delight。　As　they　passed　into　other　rooms；　these　objects　were　taking　different　positions；　but　from　every　window　there　were　beauties　to　be　seen。　The　rooms　were　lofty　and　handsome；　and　their　furniture　suitable　to　the　fortune　of　their　proprietor；　but　Elizabeth　saw；　with　admiration　of　his　taste；　that　it　was　neither　gaudy　nor　uselessly　fine；　with　less　of　splendor；　and　more　real　elegance；　than　the　furniture　of　Rosings。
‘‘And　of　this　place；''　thought　she；　‘‘I　might　have　been　mistress！　With　these　rooms　I　might　now　have　been　familiarly　acquainted！　Instead　of　viewing　them　as　a　stranger；　I　might　have　rejoiced　in　them　as　my　own；　and　welcomed　to　them　as　visitors　my　uncle　and　aunt。　　But　no；''　　recollecting　herself；　　‘‘that　could　never　be：　my　uncle　and　aunt　would　have　been　lost　to　me：　I　should　not　have　been　allowed　to　invite　them。''　This　was　a　lucky　recollection　　it　saved　her　from　something　like　regret。
She　longed　to　enquire　of　the　housekeeper　whether　her　master　were　really　absent；　but　had　not　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　tomorrow；　with　a　large　party　of　friends。''　How　rejoiced　was　Elizabeth　that　their　own　journey　had　not　by　any　circumstance　been　delayed　a　day！
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　mantlepiece。　Her　aunt　asked　her；　smilingly；　how　she　liked　it。　The　housekeeper　came　forward；　and　told　them　it　was　the　picture　of　a　young　gentleman；　the　son　of　her　late　master's　steward；　who　had　been　brought　up　by　him　at　his　own　expence。　　‘‘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　of　the　miniatures；　‘‘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　is　a　handsome　face。　But；　Lizzy；　you　can　tell　us　whether　it　is　like　or　not。''
Mrs。　Reynolds's　respect　for　Elizabeth　seemed　to　increase　on　this　intimation　of　her　knowing　her　master。
‘‘Does　that　young　lady　know　Mr。　Darcy？''
Elizabeth　coloured；　and　said　　‘‘A　little。''
‘‘And　do　not　you　think　him　a　very　handsome　gentleman；　Ma'am？''
‘‘Yes；　very　handsome。''
‘‘I　am　sure　I　know　none　so　handsome；　but　in　the　gallery　up　stairs　you　will　see　a　finer；　larger　picture　of　him　than　this。　This　room　was　my　late　master's　favourite　room；　and　these　miniatures　are　just　as　they　used　to　be　then。　He　was　very　fond　of　them。''
This　accounted　to　Elizabeth　for　Mr。　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　Mr。　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　to…morrow　with　him。''
Mr。　Gardiner；　whose　manners　were　easy　and　pleasant；　encouraged　her　communicativeness　by　his　questions　and　remarks；　Mrs。　Reynolds；　either　from　pride　or　attachment；　had　evidently　great　pleasure　in　talking　of　her　master　and　his　sister。
‘‘Is　your　master　much　at　Pemberley　in　the　course　of　the　year？''
‘‘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　what　every　body　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　had　a　cross　word　from　him　in　my　life；　and　I　have　known　him　ever　since　he　was　four　years　old。''
This　was　praise；　of　all　others　most　extraordinary；　most　opposite　to　her　ideas。　That　he　was　not　a　good　tempered　man　had　been　her　firmest　opinion。　Her　keenest　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　was　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！''　thought　she。
‘‘His　father　was　an　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。　Mrs。　Reynolds　could　interest　her　on　no　other　point。　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　now…a…days；　who　think　of　nothing　but　themselves。　There　is　not　one　of　his　tenants　or　servants　but　what　will　give　him　a　good　name。　Some　people　call　him　proud；　but　I　am　sure　I　never　saw　any　thing　of　it。　To　my　fancy；　it　is　only　because　he　does　not　rattle　away　like　other　young　men。''
‘‘In　what　an　amiable　light　does　this　place　him！''　thought　Elizabeth。
‘‘This　fine　account　of　him；''　whispered　her　aunt；　as　they　walked；　‘‘is　not　quite　consistent　with　his　behaviour　to　our　poor　friend。''
‘‘Perhaps　we　might　be　deceived。''
‘‘That　is　not　very　likely；　our　authority　was　too　good。''
On　reaching　the　spacious　lobby　above；　they　were　shewn　into　a　very　pretty　sitting…room；　lately　fitted　up　with　greater　elegance　and　lightness　than　the　apartments　below；　and　were　informed　that　it　was　but　just　done　to　give　pleasure　to　Miss　Darcy；　who　had　taken　a　liking　to　the　room　when　last　at　Pemberley。
‘‘He　is　certainly　a　good　brother；''　said　Elizabeth；　as　she　walked　towards　one　of　the　windows。
Mrs。　Reynolds　anticipated　Miss　Darcy's　delight　when　she　should　enter　the　room。　‘‘And　this　is　always　the　way　with　him；''　she　added。　　‘‘Whatever　can　give　his　sister　any　pleasure　is　sure　to　be　done　in　a　moment。　There　is　nothing　he　would　not　do　for　her。''
The　picture　gallery；　and　two　or　three　of　the　principal　bedrooms；　were　all　that　remained　to　be　shewn。　In　the　former　were　many　good　paintings；　but　Elizabeth　knew　nothing　of　the　art；　and　from　such　as　had　been　already　visible　below；　she　had　willingly　turned　to　look　at　some　drawings　of　Miss　Darcy's；　in　crayons；　whose　subjects　were　usually　more　interesting；　and　also　more　intelligible。
In　the　gallery　there　were　many　family　portraits；　but　they　could　have　little　to　fix　the　attention　of　a　stranger。　Elizabeth　walked　on　in　quest　of　the　only　face　whose　features　would　be　known　to　her。　At　last　it　arrested　her　　and　she　beheld　a　striking　resemblance　of　Mr。　Darcy；　with　such　a　smile　over　the　face　as　she　remembered　to　have　sometimes　seen；　when　he　looked　at　her。　She　stood　several　minutes　before　the　picture　in　earnest　contemplation；　and　returned　to　it　again　before　they　quitted　the