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dignified, never had he spoken with such gentleness as on

this unexpected meeting. What a contrast did it offer to his

last address in Rosings Park, when he put his letter into her

hand! She knew not what to think, or how to account for it.

They had now entered a beautiful walk by the side of the

water, and every step was bringing forward a nobler fall of

ground, or a finer reach of the woods to which they were ap-

proaching: but it was some time before Elizabeth was sen-

sible of any of it; and, though she answered mechanically to

the repeated appeals of her uncle and aunt, and seemed to

direct her eyes to such objects as they pointed out, she dis-

tinguished no part of the scene. Her thoughts were all fixed

on that one spot of Pemberley House, whichever it might be,

where Mr. Darcy then was. She longed to know what at that

moment was passing in his mind; in what manner he thought

of her, and whether, in defiance of everything, she was still

dear to him. Perhaps he had been civil only because he felt

himself at ease; yet there had been _that_ in his voice, which

was not like ease. Whether he had felt more of pain or of

pleasure in seeing her she could not tell, but he certainly had

not seen her with composure.

At length, however, the remarks of her companions on

her absence of mind roused her, and she felt the necessity of

appearing more like herself.

They entered the woods, and, bidding adieu to the river for

a while, ascended some of the higher ground; whence, in

spots where the opening of the trees gave the eye power to

wander, were many charming views of the valley, the oppo-

site hills, with the long range of woods overspreading many,

and occasionally part of the stream. Mr. Gardiner expressed

a wish of going round the whole park, but feared it might be

beyond a walk. With a triumphant smile they were told

that it was ten miles round. It settled the matter; and they

pursued the accustomed circuit; which brought them again,

after some time, in a descent among hanging woods, to the

edge of the water, and one of its narrowest parts. They

crossed it by a simple bridge, in character with the general

air of the scene: it was a spot less adorned than any they had

yet visited; and the valley, here contracted into a glen,

allowed room only for the stream and a narrow walk amidst

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