They now walked on in silence，each of them deep in thought. Elizabeth was not comfortable；that was impossible；but she was flattered and pleased. His wish of introducing his sister to her was a compliment of the highest kind.They soon outstripped the others， and when they had reached the carriage， Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were half a quarter of a mile behind.
He then asked her to walk into the house―but she declared herself not tired，and they stood together on the lawn.At such a time much might have been said，and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk，but there seemed to be an embargo on every subject.At last she recollected that she had been travelling，and they talked of Matlock and Dovedale with great perseverance.Yet time and her aunt moved slowly―and her patience and her ideas were nearly worn our before the tête-à-tête was over.
Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of his behaviour to Wickham； and therefore gave them to understand，in as guarded a manner as she could，that by what she had heard from his relations in Kent，his actions were capable of a very different construction； and that his character was by no means so faulty，nor Wickham's so amiable，as they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In confirmation of this， she related the particulars of all the pecuniary transactions in which they had been connected，without actually naming her authority， but stating it to be such as might be relied on.