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he　gallery。　Mrs。　Reynolds　informed　them　that　it　had　been　taken　in　his　father's　life　time。
There　was　certainly　at　this　moment；　in　Elizabeth's　mind；　a　more　gentle　sensation　towards　the　original　than　she　had　ever　felt　in　the　height　of　their　acquaintance。　The　commendation　bestowed　on　him　by　Mrs。　Reynolds　was　of　no　trifling　nature。　What　praise　is　more　valuable　than　the　praise　of　an　intelligent　servant？　As　a　brother；　a　landlord；　a　master；　she　considered　how　many　people's　happiness　were　in　his　guardianship！　　How　much　of　pleasure　or　pain　it　was　in　his　power　to　bestow！　　How　much　of　good　or　evil　must　be　done　by　him！　Every　idea　that　had　been　brought　forward　by　the　housekeeper　was　favourable　to　his　character；　and　as　she　stood　before　the　canvas；　on　which　he　was　represented；　and　fixed　his　eyes　upon　herself；　she　thought　of　his　regard　with　a　deeper　sentiment　of　gratitude　than　it　had　ever　raised　before；　she　remembered　its　warmth；　and　softened　its　impropriety　of　expression。
When　all　of　the　house　that　was　open　to　general　inspection　had　been　seen；　they　returned　down　stairs；　and；　taking　leave　of　the　housekeeper；　were　consigned　over　to　the　gardener；　who　met　them　at　the　hall　door。
As　they　walked　across　the　lawn　towards　the　river；　Elizabeth　turned　back　to　look　again；　her　uncle　and　aunt　stopped　also；　and　while　the　former　was　conjecturing　as　to　the　date　of　the　building；　the　owner　of　it　himself　suddenly　came　forward　from　the　road；　which　led　behind　it　to　the　stables。
They　were　within　twenty　yards　of　each　other；　and　so　abrupt　was　his　appearance；　that　it　was　impossible　to　avoid　his　sight。　Their　eyes　instantly　met；　and　the　cheeks　of　each　were　overspread　with　the　deepest　blush。　He　absolutely　started；　and　for　a　moment　seemed　immoveable　from　surprise；　but　shortly　recovering　himself；　advanced　towards　the　party；　and　spoke　to　Elizabeth；　if　not　in　terms　of　perfect　composure；　at　least　of　perfect　civility。
She　had　instinctively　turned　away；　but；　stopping　on　his　approach；　received　his　compliments　with　an　embarrassment　impossible　to　be　overcome。　Had　his　first　appearance；　or　his　resemblance　to　the　picture　they　had　just　been　examining；　been　insufficient　to　assure　the　other　two　that　they　now　saw　Mr。　Darcy；　the　gardener's　expression　of　surprise　on　beholding　his　master　must　immediately　have　told　it。　They　stood　a　little　aloof　while　he　was　talking　to　their　niece；　who；　astonished　and　confused；　scarcely　dared　lift　her　eyes　to　his　face；　and　knew　not　what　answer　she　returned　to　his　civil　enquiries　after　her　family。　Amazed　at　the　alteration　in　his　manner　since　they　last　parted；　every　sentence　that　he　uttered　was　increasing　her　embarrassment；　and　every　idea　of　the　impropriety　of　her　being　found　there　recurring　to　her　mind；　the　few　minutes　in　which　they　continued　together　were　some　of　the　most　uncomfortable　of　her　life。　Nor　did　he　seem　much　more　at　ease；　when　he　spoke；　his　accent　had　none　of　its　usual　sedateness；　and　he　repeated　his　enquiries　as　to　the　time　of　her　having　left　Longbourn；　and　of　her　stay　in　Derbyshire；　so　often；　and　in　so　hurried　a　way；　as　plainly　spoke　the　distraction　of　his　thoughts。
At　length；　every　idea　seemed　to　fail　him；　and；　after　standing　a　few　moments　without　saying　a　word；　he　suddenly　recollected　himself；　and　took　leave。
The　others　then　joined　her；　and　expressed　their　admiration　of　his　figure；　but　Elizabeth　heard　not　a　word；　and；　wholly　engrossed　by　her　own　feelings；　followed　them　in　silence。　She　was　overpowered　by　shame　and　vexation。　Her　coming　there　was　the　most　unfortunate；　the　most　ill…judged　thing　in　the　world！　How　strange　must　it　appear　to　him！　In　what　a　disgraceful　light　might　it　not　strike　so　vain　a　man！　It　might　seem　as　if　she　had　purposely　thrown　herself　in　his　way　again！　Oh！　why　did　she　come？　or；　why　did　he　thus　come　a　day　before　he　was　expected？　Had　they　been　only　ten　minutes　sooner；　they　should　have　been　beyond　the　reach　of　his　discrimination；　for　it　was　plain　that　he　was　that　moment　arrived；　that　moment　alighted　from　his　horse　or　his　carriage。　She　blushed　again　and　again　over　the　perverseness　of　the　meeting。　And　his　behaviour；　so　strikingly　altered；　　what　could　it　mean？　That　he　should　even　speak　to　her　was　amazing！　　but　to　speak　with　such　civility；　to　enquire　after　her　family！　Never　in　her　life　had　she　seen　his　manners　so　little　dignified；　never　had　he　spoken　with　such　gentleness　as　on　this　unexpected　meeting。　What　a　contrast　did　it　offer　to　his　last　address　in　Rosings　Park；　when　he　put　his　letter　into　her　hand！　She　knew　not　what　to　think；　nor　how　to　account　for　it。
They　had　now　entered　a　beautiful　walk　by　the　side　of　the　water；　and　every　step　was　bringing　forward　a　nobler　fall　of　ground；　or　a　finer　reach　of　the　woods　to　which　they　were　approaching；　but　it　was　some　time　before　Elizabeth　was　sensible　of　any　of　it；　and；　though　she　answered　mechanically　to　the　repeated　appeals　of　her　uncle　and　aunt；　and　seemed　to　direct　her　eyes　to　such　objects　as　they　pointed　out；　she　distinguished　no　part　of　the　scene。　Her　thoughts　were　all　fixed　on　that　one　spot　of　Pemberley　House；　whichever　it　might　be；　where　Mr。　Darcy　then　was。　She　longed　to　know　what　at　that　moment　was　passing　in　his　mind；　in　what　manner　he　thought　of　her；　and　whether；　in　defiance　of　every　thing；　she　was　still　dear　to　him。　Perhaps　he　had　been　civil　only　because　he　felt　himself　at　ease；　yet　there　had　been　that　in　his　voice　which　was　not　like　ease。　Whether　he　had　felt　more　of　pain　or　of　pleasure　in　seeing　her；　she　could　not　tell；　but　he　certainly　had　not　seen　her　with　composure。
At　length；　however；　the　remarks　of　her　companions　on　her　absence　of　mind　roused　her；　and　she　felt　the　necessity　of　appearing　more　like　herself。
They　entered　the　woods；　and　bidding　adieu　to　the　river　for　a　while；　ascended　some　of　the　higher　grounds；　whence；　in　spots　where　the　opening　of　the　trees　gave　the　eye　power　to　wander；　were　many　charming　views　of　the　valley；　the　opposite　hills；　with　the　long　range　of　woods　overspreading　many；　and　occasionally　part　of　the　stream。　Mr。　Gardiner　expressed　a　wish　of　going　round　the　whole　Park；　but　feared　it　might　be　beyond　a　walk。　With　a　triumphant　smile；　they　were　told　that　it　was　ten　miles　round。　It　settled　the　matter；　and　they　pursued　the　accustomed　circuit；　which　brought　them　again；　after　some　time；　in　a　descent　among　hanging　woods；　to　the　edge　of　the　water；　in　one　of　its　narrowest　parts。　They　crossed　it　by　a　simple　bridge；　in　character　with　the　general　air　of　the　scene；　it　was　a　spot　less　adorned　than　any　they　had　yet　visited；　and　the　valley；　here　contracted　into　a　glen；　allowed　room　only　for　the　stream；　and　a　narrow　walk　amidst　the　rough　coppice…wood　which　bordered　it。　Elizabeth　longed　to　explore　its　windings；　but　when　they　had　crossed　the　bridge；　and　perceived　their　distance　from　the　house；　Mrs。　Gardiner；　who　was　not　a　great　walker；　could　go　no　farther；　and　thought　only　of　returning　to　the　carriage　as　quickly　as　possible。　Her　niece　was；　therefore；　obliged　to　submit；　and　they　took　their　way　towards　the　house　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　river；　in　the　nearest　direction；　but　their　progress　was　slow；　for　Mr。　Gardiner；　though　seldom　able　to　indulge　the　taste；　was　very　fond　of　fishing；　and　was　so　much　engaged　in　watching　the　occasional　appearance　of　some　trout　in　the　water；　and　talking　to　the　man　about　them；　that　he　advanced　but　little。　Whilst　wandering　on　in　this　slow　manner；　they　were　again　surprised；　and　Elizabeth's　astonishment　was　quite　equal　to　what　it　had　been　at　first；　by　the　sight　of　Mr。　Darcy　approaching　them；　and　at　no　great　distance。　The　walk　being　here　less　sheltered　than　on　the　other　side；　allowed　them　to　see　him　before　they　met。　Elizabeth；　however　astonished；　was　at　least　more　prepared　for　an　interview　than　before；　and　resolved　to　appear　and　to　speak　with　calmness；　if　he　really　intended　to　meet　them。　For　a　few　moments；　indeed；　she　felt　that　he　would　probably　strike　into　some　other　path。　This　idea　lasted　while　a　turning　in　the　walk　concealed　him　from　their　view；　the　turning　past；　he　was　immediately　before　them。　With　a　glance　she　saw　that　he　had　lost　none　of　his　recent　civility；　and；　to　imitate　his　politeness；　she　began；　as　they　met；　to　admire　the　beauty　of　the　place；　but　she　had　not　got　beyond　the　words　‘‘delightful；''　and　‘‘charming；''　when　some　unlucky　recollections　obtruded；　and　she　fancied　that　praise　of　Pemberley　from　her　might　be　mischievously　construed。　Her　colour　changed；　and　she　said　no　more。
Mrs。　Gardiner　was　standing　a　little　behind；　and　on　her　pausing；　he　asked　her　if　she　would　do　him　the　honour　of　introducing　him　to　her　friends。　This　was　a　stroke　of　civility　for　which　she　was　quite　unprepared；　and　she　could　hardly　suppress　a　smile　at　his　being　now　seeking　the　acquaintance　of　some　of　those　very　people　against　whom　his　pride　had　revolted；　in　his　offer　to　herself。　‘‘What　will　be　his　surprise；''　thought　she；　‘‘when　he　knows　who　they　are！　He　takes　them　now　for　people　of　fashion。''
The　introduction；　however；　was　immediately　made；　and　as　she　named　their　relationship　to　herself；　she　stole　a　sly　look　at　him；　to　see　how　he　bore　it；　and　was　not　without　the　expectation　of　his　decamping　as　fast　as　he　could　from　such　disgraceful　companions。　That　he　was　surprised　by　the　connexion　was　evident；　he　sustained　it　however　with　fortitude；　and　so　far　from　going　away；　turned　back　with　them；　and　entered　into　conversation　with　Mr。　Gardiner。　Elizabeth　could　not　but　be　pleased；　could　not　but　triumph。　It　was　consoling　that　he　should　know　she　had　some　relations　for　whom　there　was　no　need　to　blush。　She　listened　most　attentively　to　all　that　passed　between　them；　and　gloried　in　every　expression；　every　sentence　of　her　uncle；　which　marked　his　intelligence；　his　taste；　or　his　good　manners。
The　conversation　soon　turned　upon　fishing；　and　she　heard　Mr。　Darcy　invite　him；　with　the　greatest　civility；　to　fish　there　as　often　as　he　chose　while　he　continued　in　the　neighbourhood；　offering　at　the　same　time　to　supply　him　with　fishing　tackle；　and　pointing　out　those　parts　of　the　stream　where　there　was　usually　most　sport。　Mrs。　Gardiner；　who　was　walking　arm　in　arm　with　Elizabeth；　gave　her　a　look　expressive　of　her　wonder。　Elizabeth　said　nothing；　but　it　gratified　her　exceedingly；　the　compliment　must　be　all　for　herself。　Her　astonishment；　however；　was　extreme；　and　continually　was　she　repeating；　‘‘Why　is　he　so　altered？