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nd 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 Miss 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 niece； desirous of knowing how she； whom the invitation most concerned； felt disposed as to its acceptance； but Elizabeth had turned away her head。 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 attendance； and the day after the next was fixed on。
Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing Elizabeth again； having still a great deal to say to her； and many enquiries to make after all their Hertfordshire friends。 Elizabeth； construing all this into a wish of hearing her speak of her sister； was pleased； and on this account； as well as some others； found herself； 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 her uncle and aunt； she staid with them only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of Bingley； and then hurried away to dress。
But she had no reason to fear Mr。 and Mrs。 Gardiner's curiosity； it was not their wish to force her communication。 It was evident that she was much better acquainted with Mr。 Darcy than they had before any idea of； it was evident that he was very much in love with her。 They saw much to interest； but nothing to justify enquiry。
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 did not visit。 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 Elizabeth； her 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 her feelings towards one in that mansion； and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out。 She certainly did not hate him。 No； hatred had vanished long ago； and she 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 her 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 her of good will which could not be overlooked。 It was gratitude。 Gratitude； not merely for having once loved her； but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him； and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection。 He who； she had been persuaded； would avoid her 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 her friends； and bent on making her 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 her was of a sort to be encouraged； as by no means unpleasing； though it could not be exactly defined。 She respected； she esteemed； she was grateful to him； she felt a real interest in his welfare； and she only wanted to know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself； and how far it would be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power； which her fancy told her she still possessed； of bringing on the renewal of his addresses。
It had been settled in the evening； between the aunt and niece； 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。 Elizabeth was pleased； though； when she asked herself the reason； she 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。伊丽莎白料定达西先生的妹妹一到彭伯里，达西先生隔天就会带着她来拜访她，因此决 定那天整个上午都不离开旅馆，至多在附近走走。可是她完全猜错了，原来她舅父母到达蓝 白屯的当天上午，那批客人就到了彭伯里。他们到了蓝白屯的，便跟着几个新朋友到各处去 溜达了一转，刚刚回到旅馆去换衣服，以便到一家朋友那里去吃饭，忽然听到一阵马车声， 他们便走到窗口，只见一男一女，坐着一辆双轮马车，从大街上往这边来。伊丽莎白立刻就 认出了马车夫的号衣，心里有了数，于是告诉舅父母说，她就要有贵客光临。舅父母听了都 非常惊讶。他们看见她说起话来那么窘，再把眼前的事实和昨天种种情景前前后后想一想， 便对这件事有了一种新的看法。他们以前虽然完全蒙在鼓里，没有看出达西先生爱上了他们 的外甥女儿，可是他们现在觉得一定是这么回事，否则他这百般殷勤就无法解释了。他们脑 子里不断地转着这些新的念头，伊丽莎白本人也不禁越来越心慌意乱。她奇怪自己怎么会这 样坐立不安。她前思后想，很是焦急，怕的是达西先生为了爱她缘故，会在他妹妹面前把她 捧得太过分；她愈是想要讨人喜欢，便愈是怀疑自己没有讨人喜欢的本领。
她为了怕让舅父母看见，便打从窗前退缩回来，在房间里踱来踱去，竭力装出心神镇定 的样子，只见舅父母神色诧异，这可更糟了。
达西兄妹终于走进了旅馆，大家郑重其事地介绍了一番，伊丽莎白看到达西�