Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 45 Touring Pemberley and meeting Darcy (1)
They went straight ahead in the car.When the woods of Pemberley appeared in front of her eyes, Elizabeth felt a little flustered, and when she entered the manor, she became even more uneasy.

The manor is very large, and the inside is high and low-lying, with a myriad of scenes.They chose the lowest place and walked into the manor, and walked for a long time in a car in a deep, vast and beautiful forest.

Elizabeth was full of emotions and had no intention of speaking, but she was full of admiration for the beauty of every place and every corner.They walked slowly uphill for about half a mile, and came to a fairly high hill where the woods ended, and Pemberley Hall immediately came into view.

The house was on the other side of the valley, and there was a rather steep road winding into the valley.This is a large and beautiful stone building, standing on a high slope, behind the house is a series of high hills with dense woods; There is no trace of artificiality.The embellishment on both sides of the strait is neither rigid nor artificial.

Elizabeth was overjoyed.Never had she seen a place more natural in taste, nowhere was its beauty so untainted by vulgarity.Everyone appreciates it.Elizabeth could not help thinking that it would be all right to be a matron at Pemberley.

They went down the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove up to the gate of the mansion, admiring the surrounding scenery.At this time, Elizabeth couldn't help feeling another wave of fear, for fear of bumping into her master.She worried that the maid at the hotel had made a mistake.

They asked to come in for a visit, and were immediately let into the drawing-room, where everyone was waiting for the housekeeper, when Elizabeth wondered where she was.

The housekeeper came, she was a dignified old lady, far less handsome than she imagined, but she was more polite and thoughtful than she imagined.They followed her into the dining room.It was a large, spacious and comfortable room, furnished very delicately.Elizabeth looked at it for a while, then went to the window to enjoy the scenery.They looked at the hill they had just descended, and saw that it was densely covered with jungle, and it seemed steeper from a distance. It was a beautiful place, and everything was neatly kept.Looking around, she saw a bend in the river, the banks between the trees, and the winding valleys, which made her feel relaxed and happy.

They went to another room to look at it. Every time they changed rooms, the view was different, but no matter which window you went to, there was something beautiful to eat.Each room is tall and beautiful, and the furniture and furnishings are quite suitable for the status of the owner. It is neither vulgar nor overly extravagant. Compared with Rosings, it can be said that it is less luxurious and more elegant.

Elizabeth looked at it and admired the master's taste.She thought to herself: "I almost became the housewife here! These rooms may have been familiar to me long ago! Instead of visiting as a stranger, I can enjoy it as my own house and use it as my own." Aunt and Aunt are welcome as distinguished guests. But no!" She suddenly remembered, "This is absolutely impossible: I won't be able to see Aunt and Aunt at that time, and he will never allow me to invite them."

Fortunately, she remembered this, so she didn't regret what she did back then.

She really wanted to ask the housekeeper if the master was really not at home, but she didn't have the courage, so she had to give up.However, her uncle asked this sentence on her behalf, which made her flustered and turned her head away.I only heard Mrs. Renault reply that he was indeed not at home.Then he added: "But I will go home tomorrow, and I will bring many friends with me."

Elizabeth was glad to hear that, and it was a good thing they had not come a day late.

Her aunt asked her to see a portrait.As she drew nearer, she saw that it was a portrait of Wickham, hung among several other miniatures, over the mantel-piece.My aunt smiled and asked her if she felt all right.

The housekeeper came over and said that the young man in the portrait was the accountant's son of the old master, and he was raised by the old master.She added: "He's in the army now, and I'm afraid he's become quite a loafer."

Mrs. Gardner looked at her niece with a smile, but Elizabeth could not laugh.

Mrs. Reynolds pointed to another portrait and said, "This is my little master. It looks very similar. It was painted at the same time as that one, about eight years ago."

Mrs. Gardiner looked at the portrait and said: "I have often heard that your master is a handsome man, and he has a pretty face.—But, Lizzy, tell me, does it look like it? "

Madame Reynolds respected Elizabeth all the more when she heard of her acquaintance with her master.

"The lady was acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"

Elizabeth blushed, and could only say, "I'm not very familiar."

"Do you think he is a very handsome young master, miss?"

"Yes, very chic."

"I dare say I have never seen such a handsome man. There is another portrait of him in the upstairs studio, which is larger and better painted. The old master loved this room most when he was alive. It's still the same as before. He likes the miniatures."

Only then did Elizabeth understand why Mr. Wickham's portrait was also put together.

Mrs. Reynolds then pointed out to them a portrait of Miss Darcy, drawn when she was eight years old.

"Is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?" asked Mr. Gardner.

"Oh, that goes without saying—there was never such a pretty lady, and so many talents! She played and sang all day long. In the next room there is a piano just bought for her, a present from my master. .She'll be back with him tomorrow."

The housekeeper, seeing Mr. Gardner's easygoing manner, asked him questions and answered them.Mrs. Reynolds spoke with great pleasure of her master's brother and sister, perhaps from pride in them, or from a deep friendship with them.

"Does your master spend much of the year at Pemberley?"

"Not so much as I'd like, sir, and he's probably here for the first half of every year. Miss Darcy always spends her summers here."

Elizabeth thought: "I won't come unless I go to Ramsgate."

"If your master is married, you will see him more often."

"Yes, sir. But I don't know how long it will take place. I don't know which lady is worthy of him."

The Gardners both laughed.Elizabeth couldn't help but said: "You think so, it really makes him look so proud."

The housekeeper said: "I'm telling the truth, and everyone who knew him said so." Elizabeth felt that this was a bit too much.

Only the housekeeper said again: "I have never heard him say a serious word in my life. I have been with him since he was four years old." Elizabeth was even more surprised when she heard it.

The words of praise were the most unexpected and the most difficult for her to imagine.She had long concluded that Darcy was a bad-tempered person, and hearing this today, she could not help arousing her deep attention.

She wanted to hear more, but fortunately her uncle said again: "There are very few people who deserve such a compliment. You are really lucky to have such a good master."

"You are so right, sir. I know good luck myself. I have traveled all over the world, and I will never meet a better master. I often say that if you have a good temper when you are young, you will also have a good temper when you grow up." .He was the boy with the best temper and the biggest belly since he was a child."

Elizabeth could not help staring at her."Is Darcy really such a man?" she thought to herself.

"His father was a wonderful man," said Mrs. Gardner.

"You are right, ma'am, that he was indeed a great man. His only son was exactly like him—and as considerate of the poor as he was."

Elizabeth listened on, first with wonder, then with suspicion, and finally with a great desire to hear more, but Mrs. Reynolds could say nothing else to interest her.She talked about portraits, about the size of the room, about the price of the furniture, but she didn't like to hear it.Mr. Gardiner amused himself by hearing that the housekeeper's exaggerated praise of her own master was nothing more than family prejudice, and at once reverted to the subject.Talking vigorously of his many virtues, she led them up the grand staircase.

"He was an enlightened proprietor, and the best of masters," she said. "He was not such a wild young man as he is now, who think only of himself, and there was not a single tenant or servant who did not praise him. Some said he was haughty, But I've never seen any arrogance in him. I suppose he's just not as talkative as the average young man is."

"How lovely you say he is!" thought Elizabeth.

As she walked, her aunt said softly: "I only heard good things about him, but the way he treated our poor friend didn't seem to be in line with the truth."

"We may have been hoodwinked."

"It's unlikely, our evidence is too solid."

When they reached the spacious hall upstairs, they were led into a beautiful sitting room, which was recently furnished and was more refined and fresh than many of the rooms downstairs. For Miss Darcy's enjoyment, for she had her eye on the room at Pemberley last year.

"He is indeed a good brother," said Elizabeth, going up to a window.

Mrs. Reynolds reckoned how pleased Miss Darcy would be when she entered the room."He's always been like that," she said. "Anything that pleases his sister, he does it right away. He never does anything against her."

All that remained was the studio and two or three principal bedrooms to be shown to them.

There are many beautiful oil paintings displayed in the studio, but Elizabeth is a complete layman in art, but she feels as if she has seen these paintings downstairs, so she would rather turn her head and look at some chalk drawings drawn by Miss Darcy, Because the themes of these paintings are generally more intriguing and easier to understand.

The studio is full of family portraits, and strangers will not be interested in seeing them.Elizabeth walked up and down, looking for the portrait of the familiar face.At last she saw a portrait very much like Mr. Darcy, with the same smile on his face as he had looked on before.She stood in front of the portrait for a few minutes, fascinated by it; before leaving the studio, she went back to look at it again.Madame Renaud told them that the portrait had been painted during his father's lifetime.

Elizabeth could not help feeling an immediate familiarity with the man in the picture which she had never felt for him, even in the days when she had seen him most.We should not underestimate this tribute of Madame Reynolds to her master.What compliment is more valuable than that of a wise servant?She thinks that whether he is an elder brother, a farmer, or the head of a family, he controls the happiness of many people; how much happiness he can give others, and how much pain he can give others; evil.Everything that the housekeeper said was enough to show his good character.Standing in front of his portrait, she only felt his eyes staring at her. She couldn't help but think of his love for her, and a burst of gratitude that she had never felt before came to her spontaneously; remembering his ardent love, She no longer cared about his abrupt courtship.

They visited all the places that could be visited by the public, and then came downstairs and said goodbye to the housekeeper.The housekeeper ordered a gardener to meet them at the hall door.

They walked across the grass to the river, and Elizabeth turned her head to look again at this moment, and her aunt and aunt stopped.Unexpectedly, when her uncle was about to estimate the age of the house, she suddenly saw the owner of the house coming from a road leading to the stable.

They were only twenty yards or so apart, and there was hardly time to dodge his sudden appearance.In an instant, the four eyes met, and both of their faces were flushed with blood.The master was so surprised that he stood there motionless, but he immediately made up his mind and came up to them and talked to Elizabeth, if not very calm, at least very polite.

Elizabeth had already walked away involuntarily, but when she saw that he had come forward, she had to stop and accept his greeting with embarrassment and shame.And her aunt and uncle would not recognize him even if they saw him, and although they clearly saw that he was similar to the portrait just now, they could not see that he was Mr. Darcy; but at least look at the gardener who saw the master The expression of astonishment upon returning should also be understood immediately.Seeing him talking to their niece, his aunt and uncle purposely stood a little farther away.

He asked politely about the safety of her family members, but she was too surprised and flustered to raise her eyes to look at him, she didn't know what to answer him.She was amazed by his attitude, which was so different from the last time they parted, that every word he said made her more embarrassed.She thought about it, and felt that it was really indecent to come here and be found out, and these few minutes turned out to be the most difficult time in her life.He was not necessarily more calm than her, and his tone of voice was not as calm as usual.He asked her when she had set off from Longburn, and how long she had been in Derbyshire, and so on and on and on, and with a flurry of questions that showed how flustered his heart was.

In the end, he seemed to have nothing to say, and stood silently for a few minutes, then suddenly regained his composure, and left.

(End of this chapter)