The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn, and set off the next

morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. One

enjoyment was certain—that of suitableness as companions; a

suitableness which comprehended health and temper to bear

inconveniences—cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure—and affection

and intelligence, which might supply it among themselves if there were

disappointments abroad.
It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire,

nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither

lay—Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth, Birmingham, etc., are

sufficiently known. A small part of Derbyshire is all the present

concern. To the little town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner’s

former residence, and where she had lately learned that some

acquaintance still remained, they bent their steps, after having seen

all the principal wonders of the country; and within five miles of

Lambton, Elizabeth found, from her aunt, that Pemberley was situated. It

was not in their direct road; nor more than a mile or two out of it. In

talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner expressed an

inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner declared his

willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation.
“My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have heard so

much?” said her aunt. “A place, too, with which so many of your

acquaintance are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there, you

know.”
Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no{300} business at

Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She

must own that she was tired of great houses: after going over so many,

she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains.
Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. “If it were merely a fine house

richly furnished,” said she, “I should not care about it myself; but the