Mr.Gardiner left them soon after breakfast.The fishing scheme had been renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting some of the gentlemen at Pemberley before noon.
Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well;and, as far as their acquaintance reached, there was no fault to find. They could not be untouched by his politeness; and had they drawn his character from their own feelings and his servant's report,without any reference to any other account,the circle in Hertfordshire to which he was known would not have recognized it for Mr.Darcy.There was now an interest,however, in believing the housekeeper;and they soon became sensible that the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four years old, and whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be hastily rejected.Neither had anything occurred in the intelligence of their Lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight.They had nothing to accuse him of but pride; pride he probably had,and if not,it would certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town where the family did not visit. It was acknowledged,however,that he was a liberal man,and did much good among the poor.