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gone into the army,' she added; 'but I am afraid he has

turned out very wild.'

Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile, but Eliza-

beth could not return it.

'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.'

'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's respect for Elizabeth seemed to increase

on this intimation of her knowing her master.

'Does that young lady know Mr. Darcy?'

Elizabeth coloured and said, 'A little.'

'And do not you think him a very handsome gentleman,

ma'am?'

'Yes, very handsome.'

'I am sure I know none so handsome; but in the gallery

upstairs you will see a finer, larger picture of him than this.

This room was my late master's favourite room, and these

miniatures are just as they used to be then. He was very

fond of them.'

This accounted to Elizabeth for Mr. Wickham's being

among them.

Mrs. Reynolds then directed their attention to one of Miss

Darcy, drawn when she was only eight years old.

'And is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?' said Mr.

Gardiner.

'Oh yes -- the handsomest young lady that ever was seen;

and so accomplished! She plays and sings all day long. In

the next room is a new instrument just come down for her

-- a present from my master; she comes here to-morrow with

him.'

Mr. Gardiner, whose manners were easy and pleasant, en-

couraged her communicativeness by his questions and re-

marks: Mrs. Reynolds, either from pride or attachment, had

evidently great pleasure in talking of her master and his

sister.

'Is your master much at Pemberley in the course of the

year?'

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