misrepresented.”
“Certainly,” he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had

silenced him; but he soon afterwards said,{402}—
“I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other

several times. I wonder what he can be doing there.”
“Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh,” said

Elizabeth. “It must be something particular to take him there at this

time of year.”
“Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought I

understood from the Gardiners that you had.”
“Yes; he introduced us to his sister.”
“And do you like her?”
“Very much.”
“I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly improved within this year

or two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad

you liked her. I hope she will turn out well.”
“I dare say she will; she has got over the most trying age.”
“Did you go by the village of Kympton?”
“I do not recollect that we did.”
“I mention it because it is the living which I ought to have had. A most

delightful place! Excellent parsonage-house! It would have suited me in

every respect.”
“How should you have liked making sermons?”
“Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty, and

the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to repine; but,

to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The quiet, the

retirement of such a life, would have answered all my ideas of

happiness! But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the

circumstance when you were in Kent?”
“I have heard from authority, which I thought as good,{403} that it was

left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron.”
“You have! Yes, there was something in that; I told you so from the

first, you may remember.”
“I did hear, too, that there was a time when sermon-making was not so

palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually

declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that the business