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Chapter XXXIII

More than once did Elizabeth, in her ramble within

the park, unexpectedly meet Mr. Darcy. She felt all

the perverseness of the mischance that should bring

him where no one else was brought; and, to prevent its ever

happening again, took care to inform him, at first, that it was

a favourite haunt of hers. How it could occur a second

time, therefore, was very odd! Yet it did, and even the third.

It seemed like wilful ill-nature, or a voluntary penance; for

on these occasions is was not merely a few formal inquiries

and an awkward pause and then away, but he actually

thought it necessary to turn back and walk with her. He

never said a great deal, nor did she give herself the trouble

of talking or of listening much; but it struck her in the

course of their third rencounter that he was asking some odd

unconnected questions -- about her pleasure in being at Huns-

ford, her love of solitary walks, and her opinion of Mr. and

Mrs. Collins's happiness; and that in speaking of Rosings,

and her not perfectly understanding the house, he seemed to

expect that whenever she came into Kent again she would

be staying _there_ too. His words seemed to imply it. Could

he have Colonel Fitzwilliam in his thoughts? She supposed,

if he meant anything, he must mean an allusion to what might

arise in that quarter. It distressed her a little, and she was

quite glad to find herself at the gate in the pales opposite the

Parsonage.

She was engaged one day, as she walked, in reperusing

Jane's last letter, and dwelling on some passages which

proved that Jane had not written in spirits, when, instead of

being again surprised by Mr. Darcy, she saw, on looking up,

that Colonel Fitzwilliam was meeting her. Putting away the

letter immediately, and forcing a smile, she said,--

'I did not know before that you ever walked this way.'

'I have been making the tour of the park,' he replied, 'as

I generally do every year, and intended to close it with a call

at the Parsonage. Are you going much farther?'

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