Volume III, Chapter II

CHAPTER II

Edward had settled it that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit him, the very day after her reaching Pemberley; and was consequently resolved not to be out of sight of the inn the whole of that morning. But his conclusion was false; for on the very morning after their arrival at Lambton, these visitors came. They had been walking about the place with some of their new friends, and were just returning to the inn to dress themselves for dining with the same family, when the sound of a carriage drew them to a window, and they saw a gentleman and a lady in a curricle driving up the street. Edward immediately recognising the livery, guessed what it meant, and imparted no small degree of surprise to his relations, by acquainting them with the honour which he expected. His uncle and aunt were all amazement; and the embarrassment of his manner as he spoke, joined to the circumstance itself, and many of the circumstances of the preceding day, opened to them a new idea on the business. Nothing had ever suggested it before, but they now felt that there was no other way of accounting for such attentions from such a quarter, than by supposing a partiality for their nephew. While these newly-born notions were passing in their heads, the perturbation of Edward's feelings was at every moment increasing. He was quite amazed at his own discomposure; but amongst other causes of disquiet, he dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much in his favour; and more than commonly anxious to please, he naturally suspected that every power of pleasing would fail him.

He retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as he walked up and down the room, endeavouring to compose himself, saw such looks of inquiring surprise in his uncle and aunt, as made every thing worse.

Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took place. With astonishment did Edward see, that his new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as himself. Since his being at Lambton, he had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced him, that she was only exceedingly shy. He found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable.

Miss Darcy was as tall as his elder sister, but on a larger scale than her; and, though little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother, but there was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. Edward, who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much relieved by discerning such different feelings.

They had not long been together, before Darcy told him that Bingley was also coming to wait on him; and he had barely time to express his satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor, when Bingley's quick step was heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered the room. All Edward's anger against him had been long done away; but, had he still felt any, it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected cordiality with which the gentleman expressed himself, on seeing him again. He inquired in a friendly, though general way, after his family, and looked and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage than to himself. They had long wished to see him. The whole party before them, indeed, excited a lively attention. The suspicions which had just arisen of Mr. Darcy and their nephew, directed their observation towards each with an earnest, though guarded, enquiry; and they soon drew from those inquiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew what it was to love. Of Edward's sensations they remained a little in doubt; but that Mr. Darcy was overflowing with admiration was evident enough.

Edward, on his side, had much to do. He wanted to ascertain the feelings of each of his visitors, he wanted to compose his own, and to make himself agreeable to all; and in the latter object, where he feared most to fail, he was most sure of success, for those to whom he endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in his favour. Bingley was ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined, to be pleased.

In seeing Bingley, his thoughts naturally flew to his sister; and oh! how ardently did he long to know whether any of the gentleman's were directed in a like manner. Sometimes he could fancy, that he talked less than on former occasions, and once or twice pleased himself with the notion that as Mr. Bingley looked at him, he was trying to trace any resemblance. But, though this might be imaginary, no one could be deceived as to his behaviour to Miss Darcy, who had been set up as a rival to Jane. No look appeared on either side that spoke particular regard. Nothing occurred between them that could justify the hopes of Miss Bingley. On this point Edward was soon satisfied; and two or three little circumstances occurred ere they parted, which, in his anxious interpretation, denoted a recollection of Jane, not untinctured by tenderness, and a wish of saying more that might lead to the mention of her, had he dared. He observed to Edward, at a moment when the others were talking together, and in a tone which had something of real regret, that it 'was a very long time since he had had the pleasure of seeing him;' and, before he could reply, added, 'It is above eight months. We have not met since the 26th of November, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield.'

Edward was pleased to find his memory so exact; and his visitor afterwards took occasion to ask him, when unattended to by any of the rest, whether all his sisters were at Longbourn. There was not much in the question, nor in the preceding remark, but there was a look and a manner which gave them meaning.

It was not often that Edward could turn his eyes on Mr. Darcy himself; but, whenever he did catch a glimpse, he saw an expression of general complaisance, and in all that he said, he heard an accent so removed from hauteur or disdain of his companions, as convinced him that the improvement of manners which he had yesterday witnessed, however temporary its existence might prove, had at least outlived one day. When he saw him thus seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion of people, with whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a disgrace; when he saw him thus civil, not only to himself, but to the very relations whom he had openly disdained, and recollected their last lively scene in Hunsford, the difference, the change was so great, and struck so forcibly on his mind, that he could hardly restrain his astonishment from being visible. Never, even in the company of his dear friends at Netherfield, or his dignified relations at Rosings, had Mr. Darcy appeared so desirous to please, so free from self-consequence, or unbending reserve as now, when no importance could result from the success of his endeavours, and when even the acquaintance of those to whom his attentions were addressed, would draw down the ridicule and censure of the ladies both of Netherfield and Rosings.

Their visitors staid with them above half an hour, and when they arose to depart, Mr. Darcy called on his sister to join him in expressing their wish of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and Mr. Bennet, to dinner at Pemberley, before they left the country. Miss Darcy, though with a diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, readily obeyed. Mrs. Gardiner looked at her nephew, desirous of knowing how he, whom the invitation most concerned, felt disposed as to its acceptance, but Edward's eye would not be caught. Presuming, however, that this studied avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment, than any dislike of the proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of society, a perfect willingness to accept it, she ventured to engage for her nephew's attendance, and the day after the next was fixed on.

Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing Edward again, having still a great deal to say to him, and many enquiries to make after all their Hertfordshire friends. Edward, construing all this into a wish of hearing him speak of his sister, was pleased; and on this account, as well as some others, found himself, when their visitors left them, capable of considering the last half hour with some satisfaction, though while it was passing, the enjoyment of it had been little. Eager to be alone, and fearful of enquiries or hints from his uncle and aunt, he staid with them only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of Bingley, and then hurried away to his room.

But he had no reason to fear Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's curiosity; it was not their wish to force his communication. It was evident that Edward was much better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than they had before any idea of; it was evident that the gentleman was very much in love with him. They saw much to interest, but nothing to justify inquiry.

Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well; and, as far as their acquaintance reached, there was no fault to find. They could not be untouched by his politeness, and had they drawn his character from their own feelings, and his servant's report, without any reference to any other account, the circle in Hertfordshire to which he was known, would not have recognised it for Mr. Darcy. There was now an interest, however, in believing the housekeeper; and they soon became sensible, that the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four years old, and whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be hastily rejected. Neither had any thing occurred in the intelligence of their Lambton friends, that could materially lessen its weight. They had nothing to accuse him of but pride; pride he probably had, and if not, it would certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town, where the family seldom visited. It was acknowledged, however, that he was a liberal man, and did much good among the poor.

With respect to Wickham, the travellers soon found that he was not held there in much estimation; for though the chief of his concerns, with the son of his patron, were imperfectly understood, it was yet a well known fact that, on his quitting Derbyshire, he had left many debts behind him, which Mr. Darcy afterwards discharged.

As for Edward, his thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not long enough to determine his feelings towards one in that mansion; and he lay awake two whole hours, endeavouring to make them out. He certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and he had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him, that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to his feelings; and it was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature, by the testimony so highly in his favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within himself of goodwill which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude.—Gratitude, not merely for having once loved him, but for loving him still well enough, to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of his manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying his rejection. He who, Edward had been persuaded, would avoid him as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of his friends, and bent on making him known to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much pride, excited not only astonishment but gratitude—for to love, ardent love, it must be attributed; and as such its impression on him was of a sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be exactly defined. He respected, he esteemed, he was grateful to him, he felt a real interest in the gentleman's welfare; and he only wanted to know how far he wished that welfare to depend upon himself, and how far it would be for the happiness of both that he should employ the power, which his fancy told him he still possessed, of bringing on the renewal of his addresses.

It had been settled in the evening, between the aunt and the nephew, that such a striking civility as Miss Darcy's, in coming to them on the very day of her arrival at Pemberley, for she had reached it only to a late breakfast, ought to be imitated, though it could not be equalled, by some exertion of politeness on their side; and, consequently, that it would be highly expedient to wait on her at Pemberley the following morning. They were, therefore, to go.—Edward was pleased, though, when he asked himself the reason, he had very little to say in reply.

Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing scheme had been renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting some of the gentlemen at Pemberley by noon.