{{prxprp209.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 209 ||

pleasure -- and affection and intelligence, which might supply it

among themselves if there were disappointments abroad.

It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derby'

shire, nor of any of the remarkable places through which their

route thither lay; Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth,

Birmingham, etc., are sufficiently known. A small part of

Derbyshire is all the present concern. To the little town of

Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner's former residence, and

where she had lately learned that some acquaintance still re

mained, they bent their steps, after having seen all the principal

wonders of the country; and within five miles of Lambton,

Elizabeth found from her aunt, that Pemberley was situated. It

was not in their direct road; nor more than a mile or two out of

it. In talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner

expressed an inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner

declared his willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her

approbation.

'My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have

heard so much?' said her aunt. 'A place too, with which so

many of your acquaintance are connected. Wickham passed all

his youth there you know.'

Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at

Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing

it. She must own that she was tired of great houses; after going over

so many, she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains.

Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. 'If it were merely a fine

house richly furnished,' said she, 'I should not care about it

myself; but the grounds are delightful. They have some of the

finest woods in the country.'

Elizabeth said no more -- but her mind could not acquiesce.

The possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place,

instantly occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the

very idea; and thought it would be better to speak openly to her

aunt, than to run such a risk. But against this, there were objec

tions; and she finally resolved that it could be the last resource,

if her private inquiries as to the absence of the family were

unfavourably answered.

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