ThecontentsofthisletterthrewElizabethintoaflutterofspirits,inwhichitwasdifficultchshehadfearedtoencourageasanexertionofgoodnesstoogreattobeprobable,andatthesametimedreadedtobejust,fromthepainofobligation,wereprovedbeyondtheirgreatestextenttobetrue!Hehadfollowedthempurposelytotown,hehadtakenonhimselfallthetroubleandmortificationattendantonsucharesearch;inwhichsupplicationhadbeennecessarytoawomanwhomhemustabominateanddespise,andwherehewasreducedtomeet,frequentlymeet,reasonwith,persuade,andfinallybribe,themanwhomhealwaysmostwishedtoarshesoonfeltthatevenhervanitywasinsufficient,whenrequiredtodependonhisaffectionforher―forawomanwhohadalreadyrefusedhim―asabletoovereasentimmorh;hehadliberality,andhehadthemeansofexercisingit;andthoughshewouldnotplaceherselfashisprincipalinducement,shecould,perhaps,believethatremainingpartialityforhermightassisthisendeavoursinoshehadevere;washardlyenough;,onfindinghowsteadfastlybothsheandherunclehadbeenions,bysomeone'sapproach;andbeforeshecouldstrikeintoanotherpath,shewasovertakenbyWickham.

    “IamafraidIinterruptyoursolitaryramble,mydearsister?”saidhe,ashejoinedher.

    “Youcertainlydo,”sherepliedwithasmile;“butitdoesnotfollowthattheinterruptionmus;duhaveactuallyseenPemberley.”

    Sherepliedintheaffirmative.

    “Ialmostenvyyouthepleasure,andyetIbelieveitwouldbesshedid.”

    “Andwhatdidshesay?”

    “Thatyouwere;buthesoonafterwardsgthere.”

    “PerhapsdfromtheGardinersthatyouhad.”

    “Yes;heintroducedustohissister.”

    “Anddoyoulikeher?”

    “Verymuch.”

    “Ihaveheard,youlikedher.Ihopeshewillturnoutwell.”

    “Idaresayshewill;shehasgotoverthemosttryingage.”

    “DidyougobythevillageofKympton?”

    “Idonotrecollectthatwedid.”

    “Iavesuitedmeineveryrespect.”

    “Hows;―but,tobesure,itwouldhavebeensuchathingforme!Thequiet,theretirementofsuchalifewouldinKent?”

    “Ihaveheardfromauthority,whichIthoughtasgood,thatitwasleftyouconditionally;Itoldyousofromthefirst,youmayremember.”

    “Ididhear,too,thattherewasatime,whensermon-makingwasnotsopalatabletoyouasitseemstobeatpresent;thatyouactuallydeclaredyourresolutionofnevertakingorders,andthatthebusinesshadbeenpromisedaccordinglkedofit.”

    Theywerenowalmostatthedoorofthehouse,forshehadwalkedfasttogetridofhim;andunwilling,forhersister'ssake,toprovokehim,sheolheldoutherhand;hekisseditwithaffectionategallantry,thoughhehardlyknewhowtolook,andtheyenteredthehouse.