Austen Said:

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 connection 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? From what can it proceed? It cannot be for me — it cannot be for my sake that his manners are thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as this. It is impossible that he should still love me.”

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

she had been assured of his absence before she came to the place,

and accordingly began by observing, that

his arrival had been very unexpected —

“for your housekeeper,”

she added,

“informed us that you would certainly not be here till to-morrow; and indeed, before we left Bakewell, we understood that you were not immediately expected in the country.”

He

acknowledged the truth of it all, and

said that

business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling.

“They will join me early to-morrow,”

he continued,

“and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you — Mr. Bingley and his sisters.”

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.

“There is also one other person in the party,”

he continued after a pause,

“who more particularly wishes to be known to you. Will you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay at Lambton?”