The Romance of Garden
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“This is a very fine place,” said Lady Alice. She had been watching the gardener’s back as he pruned some thornbushes at the far end of the wall, but presently she turned to Mr. Darcy and looked with her large blue eyes up into his face for a moment or two. “You are right: there is no townhouse like Pemberley in Derbyshire.”
He was not quite sure that he liked Lady Alice’s tone; it was too much pleased. Her husband had spoken before about what they could do if he should marry Lydia Bennet—as though she were already his wife. But when he glanced round again, Mrs. Reynolds was approaching them.
“I see you have met my daughter,” said Lady Lucas. “She has just arrived from Meryton.”
Lydia came forward with downcast eyes, and her mother gave her an affectionate little pat on the shoulder.
They both looked rather shyly at him, but their manners were such that he hardly felt that they had any reason to be shy; only there was something in Lydia’s look as she stood looking up into his face with her head inclined and her large brown eyes full of curiosity, that reminded him a little, he thought, of a young animal under restraint.
It appeared to him almost a relief that the mother took them both in hand at once and introduced them. He would gladly have avoided speaking to Lydia altogether, but he did not know how else to escape; so he made a low bow and inquired after her health. The little pat on the shoulder made her look up and smile at him.
“It is all over now!” she exclaimed. “My father told me I must come here this morning because I was to stay the whole day with Aunt Catherine! And we went by the coach, too.”
Her voice sounded so happy and confident in her new surroundings that Mr. Darcy felt himself a little embarrassed. He wished to speak to her more particularly, but his heart beat fast every time her small bright head turned towards him.
When Lady Lucas began talking about the journey, it was difficult to draw Lydia out upon the subject; indeed, he soon perceived that she knew nothing whatever about its progress.
She was evidently anxious to please her mother and talked incessantly of the different places in which they had passed, and the curious people whom she had seen, till even the most insignificant objects seemed worthy of notice from her point of view. But he was vexed at finding no chance of talking with her alone.
He would gladly have exchanged the conversation, but she never left her mother’s side. At last, however, when she was taken to walk on the lawn, he followed them; and they walked for some distance together. She had a lively disposition and spoke readily when she chose, but sometimes became silent on another’s bidding.
He was struck by several things in her appearance: her air of freedom and ease; her unaffected directness and candor; and the absence of affectation.
These qualities, which were scarcely less striking in Lydia than in herself, suggested some resemblance between them; and while he was observing her face for some moments in silence, her glance dropped to his with a questioning expression that made him feel that she had been regarding him a little longer than was intended.
“I dare say Miss Darcy thinks you very well-dressed,” said she. “I hope I do not offend you?”
Mr. Darcy looked at her with surprise, thinking for a moment that she had ventured to express herself in her own way without being aware that it might be interpreted as an impertinence; but he soon perceived that she meant no such thing.
“Not at all, miss!” he replied. “Your observation is very correct. You cannot tell how much your compliment gratifies me! In truth, I am conscious of having had great difficulty in making myself presentable this morning.”
They laughed and were soon walking side by side.
“I suppose there may be many reasons why a person of quality should wish to appear before the public in such a costume!” she observed.
“I am convinced of it,” said he.
“Do not you agree with me, Mr. Darcy?” she rejoined.
“With pleasure. I shall be very glad to hear any of your ideas.”
He found himself in no danger of misunderstanding her, and she was evidently pleased and flattered that he should be interested enough to listen to her.
“I think a fine carriage and pair are among the best possible ways of exhibiting one’s taste! I can understand, perhaps, why a gentleman who has neither horses nor money, might wish to be considered good-natured and obliging, and therefore give up his only horse; but if a man has both, why does he not buy another?”
“The only horses which a rich man usually keeps for his own use are the most valuable; and if he wishes to dispose of his only pair, or of one particular horse, it is better to have some other person to whom it may interest him to sell; and then it is easier to make an offer than it would be to bid for the animal yourself.”
“That is true. I did not consider that circumstance. However, as you seem to have given some trouble for my sake, I will allow you to continue the discussion. You observe that we walk with our heads very near each other, and you may conclude from this that I take a special interest in what you are saying?
It is just as you imagine, and my feelings are easily excited. But, pray, Miss Darcy, do you like the look of my eyes?”
“Very much, sir!” she answered, blushing.
“I thought so. I am sure it is a handsome eye, but a little too dark; and yet—I believe I am right in saying that your complexion is fair; and your hair light. I dare say, when you come to know me better, you will find many more defects that will make me extremely ridiculous. But do you see anything else in my appearance of which you approve?”
“Nothing whatever!”
“It must be something,” he insisted, with a smile. “What can it be?”
“My dear sir, nothing in the least,” she replied. “No, not even your dress! The only thing which I could admire, was not exactly your dress, but—oh! it was nothing! I forget what it was!”
***
Miss Darcy returned with her mother to the house, and they all proceeded to luncheon. Mr. Darcy was delighted to find her so willing to converse, and their conversation went on pleasantly enough during the whole meal.
She was perfectly frank; she spoke frankly of herself and her family; and though, on the whole, she was not so interesting as Miss Bingley, she had a good deal of humor and spirit in her talk. Mr. Darcy felt very much satisfied with her as a companion, and with a sense of gratification, now that he was no longer obliged to watch and guard every word he said, that she did not appear to perceive what a contrast her mother made to her.
Mrs. Bennet was not one of those women who are always seeking opportunities of talking over their neighbors’ conduct and opinions, and finding them wanting; but she was a good-natured creature, and liked to have her family agreeable; and as Elizabeth was really tolerably accomplished in several directions, it was pleasant to be able to speak comfortably together.
“If you will condescend to accompany me home, ma’am, I will show you a very pretty view of the river,” said Mr. Darcy, after a pause. He was very eager to prolong his acquaintance with her; but, though he spoke to her very plainly and directly, he could not help thinking that he did not choose his words with quite sufficient skill; and that his manner was a little too free and easy in its turn.
His natural reserve prevented him from using his powers to his advantage; but it is not every person is capable of doing all that is necessary without making some effort, however small.
As he walked beside her, his eyes roving across the fields, he looked down at every opportunity of meeting her eye, but she gave no sign of noticing his regard, and it became evident that she would not meet it.
“Are you going far?” asked Mrs. Bennet, turning back to ask him the question.
“Not quite so far as that,” he answered, pointing towards the town; “we will soon return.”
She shook her head. “It is not worthwhile my walking such a distance, sir. We must wait until our carriage comes, and I am certain that you would prefer to remain where you are.”
Mr. Darcy was not aware of having been observed by either her or her daughter, but he saw immediately afterward that Elizabeth’s eye had caught theirs both times that it happened, and he was angry. In vain he tried to think what was the matter; he could hardly doubt that she understood their meaning; and this was certainly an unkind way of treating a young gentleman.
He did not wish to appear foolish, but it was a great trial to him to be thus kept out of a conversation that interested him intensely, and he could not avoid feeling angry.
Elizabeth did not appear to notice his embarrassment. She talked still as freely as before, and he could not be quite sure whether she was aware of his agitation or not. It was painful to him to be kept thus in ignorance of what she was saying, and he was vexed with himself for having allowed his pride to prevent him from taking a chair.
He was silent again at first, but at length, he could not refrain from speaking; and in doing so, he spoke more freely than he intended.
“I have not seen you so well dressed since we met last week, but perhaps the weather may be very different where you are accustomed to walking.”
“I should hope so,” she replied; “for I am not very fond of walking in wet weather.”
The rain had begun to fall in earnest as he spoke; and though neither he nor she appeared to notice it, the two ladies were forced to take shelter. When they reached the house, he took leave of her; and when he was gone, Mrs. Bennet said to Elizabeth: “He seemed very civil—did you see how he came up to us? and he is quite handsome, Lizzy, upon my word! What a fine figure of a man!”
“Well, yes, mama; I cannot deny that,” she answered indifferently.
“And I never saw you look half so sweet and demure as you did just now,” continued her mother. “Did you know it was raining? But why did you stay there talking so long? Why did you not run into the house like any sensible girl?”
“I thought there was no harm in standing a moment or two under the trees,” Elizabeth said, in a careless tone.
“No harm in standing in a field of wet grass, or sitting on a wet bank! You might have got your feet soaked, and then how uncomfortable you would have been; and if we had been delayed, papa would not have known what to do!”
“Oh! he has no particular business to be here today, then?” said Elizabeth.
“Of course not; but he likes to see you occasionally, and you must not treat him so ill; besides, he does bring us such nice things sometimes.”
Elizabeth made no reply, and they entered the house together. The rain had fallen so heavily that it had become a heavy shower, which lasted for several hours.
The End