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not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart. But, to be

sure, the good lady who showed us the house did give him a

most flaming character! I could hardly help laughing aloud

sometimes. But he is a liberal master, I suppose, and _that,_

in the eye of a servant, comprehends every virtue.'

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 Wick-

ham's so amiable, as they had been considered in Hertford-

shire. In confirmation of this, she related the particulars of

all the pecuniary transactions in which they had been con-

nected, without actually naming her authority, but stating it

to be such as might be relied on.

Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned: but as they

were now approaching the scene of her former pleasures,

every idea gave way to the charm of recollection; and she

was too much engaged in pointing out to her husband all the

interesting spots in its environs, to think of anything else.

Fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk, they had no

sooner dined than she set off again in quest of her former

acquaintance, and the evening was spent in the satisfactions

of an intercourse renewed after many years' discontinuance.

The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to

leave Elizabeth much attention for any of these new friends;

and she could do nothing but think, and think with wonder,

of Mr. Darcy's civility, and above all, of his wishing her to

be acquainted with his sister.

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