Mrs.Gardiner was standing a little behind;and on her pausing, he asked her if she would do him the honour of introducing him to her friends.This was a stroke of civility for which she was quite unprepared; and she could hardly suppress a smile at his being now seeking the acquaintance of some of those very people against whom his pride had revolted in his offer to herself.“What will be his surprise,”thought she,“when he knows who they are? He takes them now for people of fashion.”
The conversation soon turned upon fishing;and she heard Mr.Darcy invite him,with the greatest civility,to fish there as often as he chose while he continued in the neighbourhood, offering at the same time to supply him with fishing tackle,and pointing out those parts of the stream where there was usually most sport. Mrs.Gardiner,who was walking arm-in-arm with Elizabeth,gave her a look expressive of wonder. Elizabeth said nothing, but it gratified her exceedingly;the compliment must be all for herself. Her astonishment,however,was extreme,and continually was she repeating,“Why is he so altered? From what can it proceed? It cannot be for me―it cannot be for my sake that his manners are thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as this.It is impossible that he should still love me.”