Chapter 52 310
" Undoubtedly . Did you see him while you were at Lambton ? I thought I understood from the Gardiners that you had ."
" Yes ; he introduced us to his sister ." " And do you like her ?" " Very much ."
" I have heard , indeed , that she is uncommonly improved within this year or two . When I last saw her , she was not very promising . I am very glad you liked her . I hope she will turn out well ."
" I dare say she will ; she has got over the most trying age ." " Did you go by the village of Kympton ?" " I do not recollect that we did ."
" 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 ."
" How should you have liked making sermons ?"
" 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 ?"
" I have heard from authority , which I thought as good , that it was left you conditionally only , and at the will of the present patron ."