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They were just returning to the inn to dress for dining when the sound of a carriage drew them to a window. They saw a gentleman and a lady in a curricle driving up the street.
Immediately recognising the livery, Elizabeth imparted no small degree of her surprise to her relations. Acquainting them with the honour which she expected. Her uncle and aunt were all amazement. The embarrassment of her manner as she spoke, joined to the circumstance itself, and many of the circumstances of the preceding day.
The perturbation of Elizabeth's feelings was at every moment increasing.
She was quite amazed at her own discomposure. Amongst other causes of disquiet, she dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much in her favour. More than commonly anxious to please, she suspected that every power of pleasing would fail her.
She retreated from the window, fearful of being seen. As she walked up and down the room, endeavouring to compose herself, saw such looks of inquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made everything worse.
Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took place.
With astonishment, Elizabeth saw that her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself. Since her being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud. The observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy. She found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable.
Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth. 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. Her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. Having expected to find as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, Elizabeth was much relieved by discerning such different feelings.
They had not long been together before Mr. Darcy told her that Bingley was also coming to wait on her. She had barely time to express her satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor, when Bingley's quick step was heard on the stairs. In a moment he entered the room. All Elizabeth's anger against him had been long done away. Had she still felt any anger, it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again. He inquired in a friendly, though general way, after her 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 herself. They had long wished to see him. The whole party before them, indeed, excited a lively attention.
Elizabeth wanted to ascertain the feelings of each of her visitors. She wanted to compose her own, and to make herself agreeable to all. Those to whom she endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley was ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined, to be pleased.
In seeing Bingley, her thoughts naturally flew to her sister. How ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed in a like manner. Sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on former occasions. Once or twice pleased herself with the notion that, as he looked at her, he was trying to trace a resemblance. Though this might be imaginary.
With regard 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 romance. On this point, Elizabeth was soon satisfied.
Two or three little circumstances occurred before they parted, which Elizabeth interpreted as a recollection of Jane by Bingley tinctured by tenderness. At a moment when the others were talking together, he observed that it "was a very long time since he had had the pleasure of seeing her." His tone hinted something of regret. Before she could reply, he added, "It is above eight months. We have not met since the 26th of November when we were all dancing together at Netherfield."
Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact. He afterwards took occasion to ask her whether all her 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 she could turn her eyes on Mr. Darcy himself. Whenever she did catch a glimpse, she saw an expression of general complaisance. In all that he said, she heard an accent removed from hauteur or disdain of his companions. The improvement of his manners had outlived one day.
When she 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 the change was so great and struck so forcibly on her mind, that she could hardly restrain her astonishment.
She saw him thus civil, not only to herself, but to the very relations whom he had openly disdained, and recollected their last lively scene in Hunsford Parsonage.
Never had she seen him so desirous to please. Not even in the company of his dear friends at Netherfield, or his dignified relations at Rosings. Free from self-consequence or unbending reserve, but now, when no importance could result from his endeavours. 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 stayed with them above half-an-hour. 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.
The day after the next was fixed.
Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing Elizabeth again. Having still a great deal to say to her, and many inquiries to make after all their Hertfordshire friends.
Construing all this into a wish of hearing her speak of Jane, Elizabeth was pleased. On this account, as well as some others, she found herself, 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 inquiries or hints from her uncle and aunt, she stayed with them only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of Bingley, and then hurried away to dress.
With respect to Wickham, the travellers soon found that he was not held in much estimation. It was 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.
The evening, though as it passed, it seemed long, was not long enough to determine her feelings towards one in that mansion. She lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out. She did not hate him. No, hatred had vanished long ago. 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 feeling.
Above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of goodwill 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 would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance. Without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves were concerned, he solicited 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 exciting not only astonishment but gratitude. For to love, ardent love, it must be attributed.
The change in him was of a sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be exactly defined.
She felt a real interest in his welfare. She 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 bringing on her the renewal of his addresses.
It had been settled in the evening that such a striking civility as Miss Darcy's in coming to see them on the very day of her arrival at Pemberley ought to be imitated by some exertion of politeness on their side. Consequently, they would visit Pemberley. 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 before noon.