grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the

country.”
Elizabeth said no more; but her mind could not acquiesce. The

possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly

occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea; and

thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt, than to run such

a risk. But against this there were objections; and she finally resolved

that it could be the last resource, if her private inquiries as to the

absence of the family were unfavourably answered.
Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid

whether Pemberley were not a very fine place, what was the name of its

proprietor, and, with no little alarm, whether the family were down for

the summer? A most welcome negative followed the last question; and her

alarms being now removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of

curiosity to see the house herself; and when the subject was revived the

next morning, and she was again applied to, could readily answer, and

with a proper air of indifference, that she had not really any dislike

to the scheme.
To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go.{301}

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“Conjecturing as to the date.”


CHAPTER XLIII.

ELIZABETH, as they drove along, watched for the first appearance of

Pemberley Woods with some perturbation; and when at length they turned

in at the lodge, her spirits were in a high flutter.
The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. They

entered it in one of its lowest points, and drove for some time through

a beautiful wood stretching over a wide extent.
Elizabeth’s mind was too full for conversation, but she saw and admired

every remarkable spot and point of view. They gradually ascended for

half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable

eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by