“Yes,very handsome.”
“Not so much as I could wish,sir;but I dare say he may spend half his time here;and Miss Darcy is always down for the summer months.”
“Oh!yes―the handsomest young lady that ever was seen;and so accomplished!―She plays and sings all day long.In the next room is a new instrument just come down for her―a present from my master;she comes here to-morrow with him.”
Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were very easy and pleasant, encouraged her communicativeness by his questions and remarks;Mrs.Reynolds,either by pride or attachment,had evidently great pleasure in talking of her master and his sister.
“Does that young lady know Mr.Darcy?”
They descended the hill,crossed the bridge,and drove to the door;and,while examining the nearer aspect of the house,all her apprehension of meeting its owner returned.She dreaded lest the chambermaid had been mistaken.On applying to see the place, they were admitted into the hall; and Elizabeth, as they waited for the housekeeper,had leisure to wonder at her being where she was.
“And is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?”said Mrs. Gardiner.