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第91章（第1页）

Elizabeth，astheydrovealong，watchedforthefirstappearanceofPemberleyWoodswithsomeperturbation;andwhenatlengththeyturnedinatthelodge，herspiritswereinahighflutter。

Theparkwasverylarge，andcontainedgreatvarietyofground。Theyentereditinoneofitslowestpoints，anddroveforsometimethroughabeautifulwoodstretchingoverawideextent。

Elizabethsmindwastoofullforconversation，butshesawandadmiredeveryremarkablespotandpointofview。Theygraduallyascendedforhalf-a-mile，andthenfoundthemselvesatthetopofaconsiderableeminence，wherethewoodceased，andtheeyewasinstantlycaughtbyPemberleyHouse，situatedontheoppositesideofavalley，intowhichtheroadwithsomeabruptnesswound。Itwasalarge，handsomestonebuilding，standingwellonrisingground，andbackedbyaridgeofhighwoodyhills;andinfront，astreamofsomenaturalimportancewasswelledintogreater，butwithoutanyartificialappearance。Itsbankswereneitherformalnorfalselyadorned。Elizabethwasdelighted。Shehadneverseenaplaceforwhichnaturehaddonemore，orwherenaturalbeautyhadbeensolittlecounteractedbyanawkwardtaste。Theywereallofthemwarmintheiradmiration;andatthatmomentshefeltthattobemistressofPemberleymightbesomething!

Theydescendedthehill，crossedthebridge，anddrovetothedoor;and，whileexaminingtheneareraspectofthehouse，allherapprehensionofmeetingitsownerreturned。Shedreadedlestthechambermaidhadbeenmistaken。Onapplyingtoseetheplace，theywereadmittedintothehall;andElizabeth，astheywaitedforthehousekeeper，hadleisuretowonderatherbeingwhereshewas。

Thehousekeepercame;arespectable-lookingelderlywoman，muchlessfine，andmorecivil，thanshehadanynotionoffindingher。Theyfollowedherintothedining-parlour。Itwasalarge，wellproportionedroom，handsomelyfittedup。Elizabeth，afterslightlysurveyingit，wenttoawindowtoenjoyitsprospect。Thehill，crownedwithwood，whichtheyhaddescended，receivingincreasedabruptnessfromthedistance，wasabeautifulobject。Everydispositionofthegroundwasgood;andshelookedonthewholescene，theriver，thetreesscatteredonitsbanksandthewindingofthevalley，asfarasshecouldtraceit，withdelight。Astheypassedintootherrooms，theseobjectsweretakingdifferentpositions;butfromeverywindowtherewerebeautiestobeseen。Theroomswereloftyandhandsome，andtheirfurnituresuitabletothefortuneofitsproprietor;butElizabethsaw，withadmirationofhistaste，thatitwasneithergaudynoruselesslyfine;withlessofsplendour，andmorerealelegance，thanthefurnitureofRosings。

“Andofthisplace，”thoughtshe，“Imighthavebeenmistress!WiththeseroomsImightnowhavebeenfamiliarlyacquainted!Insteadofviewingthemasastranger，Imighthaverejoicedinthemasmyown，andwelcomedtothemasvisitorsmyuncleandaunt。Butno，”—recollectingherself—“thatcouldneverbe;myuncleandauntwouldhavebeenlosttome;Ishouldnothavebeenallowedtoinvitethem。”

Thiswasaluckyrecollection—itsavedherfromsomethingverylikeregret。

Shelongedtoinquireofthehousekeeperwhetherhermasterwasreallyabsent，buthadnotthecourageforit。Atlengthhowever，thequestionwasaskedbyheruncle;andsheturnedawaywithalarm，whileMrs。Reynoldsrepliedthathewas，adding，“Butweexpecthimto-morrow，withalargepartyoffriends。”HowrejoicedwasElizabeththattheirownjourneyhadnotbyanycircumstancebeendelayedaday!

Herauntnowcalledhertolookatapicture。SheapproachedandsawthelikenessofMr。Wickham，suspended，amongstseveralotherminiatures，overthemantelpiece。Herauntaskedher，smilingly，howshelikedit。Thehousekeepercameforward，andtoldthemitwasapictureofayounggentleman，thesonofherlatemasterssteward，whohadbeenbroughtupbyhimathisownexpense。“Heisnowgoneintothearmy，”sheadded;“butIamafraidhehasturnedoutverywild。”

Mrs。Gardinerlookedatherniecewithasmile，butElizabethcouldnotreturnit。

“Andthat，”saidMrs。Reynolds，pointingtoanotheroftheminiatures，“ismymaster—andverylikehim。Itwasdrawnatthesametimeastheother—abouteightyearsago。”

“Ihaveheardmuchofyourmastersfineperson，”saidMrs。Gardiner，lookingatthepicture;“itisahandsomeface。But，Lizzy，youcantelluswhetheritislikeornot。”

Mrs。ReynoldsrespectforElizabethseemedtoincreaseonthisintimationofherknowinghermaster。

“DoesthatyoungladyknowMr。Darcy?”

Elizabethcoloured，andsaid:“Alittle。”

“Anddonotyouthinkhimaveryhandsomegentleman，maam?”

“Yes，veryhandsome。”

“IamsureIknownonesohandsome;butinthegalleryupstairsyouwillseeafiner，largerpictureofhimthanthis。Thisroomwasmylatemastersfavouriteroom，andtheseminiaturesarejustastheyusedtobethen。Hewasveryfondofthem。”

ThisaccountedtoElizabethforMr。Wickhamsbeingamongthem。

Mrs。ReynoldsthendirectedtheirattentiontooneofMissDarcy，drawnwhenshewasonlyeightyearsold。

“AndisMissDarcyashandsomeasherbrother?”saidMrs。Gardiner。

“Oh!yes—thehandsomestyoungladythateverwasseen;andsoaccomplished!—Sheplaysandsingsalldaylong。Inthenextroomisanewinstrumentjustcomedownforher—apresentfrommymaster;shecomeshereto-morrowwithhim。”

Mr。Gardiner，whosemannerswereveryeasyandpleasant，encouragedhercommunicativenessbyhisquestionsandremarks;Mrs。Reynolds，eitherbyprideorattachment，hadevidentlygreatpleasureintalkingofhermasterandhissister。

“IsyourmastermuchatPemberleyinthecourseoftheyear?”

“NotsomuchasIcouldwish，sir;butIdaresayhemayspendhalfhistimehere;andMissDarcyisalwaysdownforthesummermonths。”

“Except，”thoughtElizabeth，“whenshegoestoRamsgate。”