Austen Said:

listened most attentively to all that passed between them, and

gloried

The conversation soon turned upon fishing; and she heard

Mr. Darcy invite him, with the greatest civility,

offering at the same time

and pointing out

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;

Her astonishment, however, was extreme, and continually was she repeating,

After walking some time in this way, the two ladies in front, the two gentlemen behind, on resuming their places, after descending to the brink of the river for the better inspection of some curious water-plant, there chanced to be a little alteration. It originated in Mrs. Gardiner, who, fatigued by the exercise of the morning, found Elizabeth's arm inadequate to her support, and consequently preferred her husband's. Mr. Darcy took her place by her niece, and they walked on together. After a short silence, the lady first spoke.

She wished him to know that

and accordingly began by observing, that

she added,

He

acknowledged the truth of it all, and

said that

he continued,

Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had been the last mentioned between them; and, if she might judge by his complexion, his mind was not very differently engaged.

he continued after a pause,

The surprise of such an application was great indeed; it was too great for her to know in what manner she acceded to it.

She immediately felt that

They now walked on in silence, each of them deep in thought. Elizabeth was not comfortable; that was impossible; but she was flattered and pleased.

They soon outstripped the others, and when they had reached the carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were half a quarter of a mile behind.

He then asked her to walk into the house — but she declared herself not tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At such a time much might have been said, and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk, but there seemed to be an embargo on every subject. At last she recollected that she had been travelling, and they talked of Matlock and Dove Dale with great perseverance. Yet time and her aunt moved slowly — and her patience and her ideas were nearly worn out before the tete-a-tete was over. On Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's coming up they were all pressed to go into the house and take some refreshment; but this was declined, and they parted on each side with the utmost politeness. Mr. Darcy handed the ladies into the carriage; and when it drove off, Elizabeth saw him walking slowly towards the house.

The observations of her uncle and aunt now began; and

each of them pronounced him

said her uncle.

replied her aunt,

said her aunt,

Elizabeth

excused herself as well as she could;

said that

and that

replied her uncle.

Elizabeth felt that

but said nothing.

continued Mrs. Gardiner,

Elizabeth

here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of his behaviour to Wickham; and therefore

gave them to understand, in as guarded a manner as she could, that

In confirmation of this,

she

related the particulars of all the pecuniary transactions in which they had been connected, without actually naming her authority, but

stating it

Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned; but as they were now approaching the scene of her former pleasures, every idea gave way to the charm of recollection; and she was too much engaged in pointing out to her husband all the interesting spots in its environs, to think of anything else. Fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk they had no sooner dined than she set off again in quest of her former acquaintance, and the evening was spent in the satisfactions of an intercourse renewed after many years' discontinuance.

The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth much attention for any of these new friends; and

she

could do nothing but think,

and think with wonder,

Elizabeth had settled it that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit her the very day after her reaching Pemberley; and

was consequently resolved