............prev.....................next{{prxprp170.jpg}} || 170 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||
Elizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts and
meditations which had at length closed her eyes. She could not
yet recover from the surprize of what had happened; it was
impossible to think of anything else; and totally indisposed for
employment, she resolved soon after breakfast to indulge herself
in air and exercise. She was proceeding directly to her favourite
walk, when the recollection of Mr. Darcy's sometimes coming
there stopped her, and instead of entering the park, she turned up
the lane, which led her farther from the turnpike road. The
park paling was still the boundary on one side, and she soon
passed one of the gates into the ground.
After walking two or three times along that part of the lane,
she was tempted, by the pleasantness of the morning, to stop at
the gates and look into the park. The five weeks which she had
now passed in Kent, had made a great difference in the country,
and every day was adding to the verdure of the early trees. She
was on the point of continuing her walk, when she caught a
glimpse of a gentleman within the sort of grove which edged the
park; he was moving that way; and fearful of its being Mr. Darcy,
she was directly retreating. But the person who advanced, was
now near enough to see her, and stepping forward with eagerness,
pronounced her name. She had turned away; but on hearing
herself called, though in a voice which proved it to be Mr. Darcy,
she moved again towards the gate. He had by that time reached
it also, and, holding out a letter, which she instinctively took,
said, with a look of haughty composure, 'I have been walking
in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you. Will you
do me the honour of reading that letter?' -- And then, with a slight
bow, turned again into the plantation, and was soon out of sight.
With no expectation of pleasure, but with the strongest curiosity,
Elizabeth opened the letter, and to her still increasing wonder,
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