“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.”
“Yes,very handsome.”
“Except,”thought Elizabeth,“when she goes to Ramsgate.”
“And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman,ma'am?”
Elizabeth,as they drove along,watched for the first appearance of Pemberley Woods with some perturbation;and when at length they turned in at the lodge,her spirits were in a high flutter.
“And that,”said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another of the miniatures,“is my master―and very like him.It was drawn at the same time as the other―about eight years ago.”
Mrs.Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile,but Elizabeth could not return it.
“I have heard much of your master's fine person,”said Mrs. Gardiner, looking at the picture;“it is a handsome face. But, Lizzy,you can tell us whether it is like or not.”
Mrs. Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss Darcy,drawn when she was only eight years old.