Austen Said:

that

“I almost envy you the pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too much for me, or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the old housekeeper, I suppose? Poor Reynolds, she was always very fond of me. But of course she did not mention my name to you.”

“And what did she say?”

“Certainly,”

“I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other several times. I wonder what he can be doing there.”

“Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought I understood from the Gardiners that you had.”

“And do you like her?”

“I have heard,

indeed,

that

When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad you liked her. I hope she will turn out well.”

“Did you go by the village of Kympton?”

“I mention it, because it is the living which I ought to have had. A most delightful place! — Excellent Parsonage House! It would have suited me in every respect.”

“Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty, and the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to repine — but, to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The quiet, the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas of happiness! But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the circumstance, when you were in Kent?”

“You have. Yes, there was something in that; I told you so from the first, you may remember.”

“You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may remember what I told you on that point, when first we talked of it.”