{{prxprp215.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 215 ||

she added. -- 'Whatever can give his sister any pleasure, is sure to

be done in a moment. There is nothing he would not do for her.'

The picture gallery, and two or three of the principal bedrooms,

were all that remained to be shown. In the former were many

good paintings; but Elizabeth knew nothing of the art: and from

such as had been already visible below, she had willingly turned

to look at some drawings of Miss Darcy's, in crayons, whose

subjects were usually more interesting, and also more intelligible.

In the gallery there were many family portraits, but they could

have little to fix the attention of a stranger. Elizabeth walked

on in quest of the only face whose features would be known to

her. At last it arrested her -- and she beheld a striking resemblance

of Mr. Darcy, with such a smile over the face, as she remembered

to have sometimes seen, when he looked at her. She stood several

minutes before the picture, in earnest contemplation, and returned

to it again before they quitted the gallery. Mrs. Reynolds informed

them, that it had been taken in his father's lifetime.

• There was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth's mind, a

more gentle sensation towards the original, than she had ever felt

in the height of their acquaintance. The commendation bestowed

on him by Mrs. Reynolds was of no trifling nature. What praise

is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant? As a

brother, a landlord, a master, she considered how many people's

happiness were in his guardianship! -- How much of pleasure

or pain it was in his power to bestow! -- How much of good or

evil must be done by him! Every idea that had been brought

forward by the housekeeper was favourable to his character, and

as she stood before the canvass, on which he was represented, and

fixed his eyes upon herself, she thought of his regard with a deeper

sentiment of gratitude than it had ever raised before; she remenv

bered its warmth, and softened its impropriety of expression.

When all of the house that was open to general inspection had

been seen, they returned down stairs, and taking leave of the

housekeeper, were consigned over to the gardener, who met

them at the hall door.

As they walked across the lawn towards the river, Elizabeth

turned back to look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also, and

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