Chapter 52 309
" You certainly do," she replied with a smile; " but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome."
" I should be sorry indeed, if it were. We were always good friends; and now we are better."
" True. Are the others coming out?"
" I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to Meryton. And so, my dear sister, I find, from our uncle and aunt, that you have actually seen Pemberley."
She replied in the affirmative.
" 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."
" Yes, she did." " And what did she say?"
" That you were gone into the army, and she was afraid had--not turned out well. At such a distance as that, you know, things are strangely misrepresented."
" Certainly," he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him; but he soon afterwards said:
" I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other several times. I wonder what he can be doing there."
" Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh," said Elizabeth. " It must be something particular, to take him there at this time of year."