sensation towards the original than she had ever felt in the height of

their acquaintance. The commendation bestowed on him by Mrs. Reynolds

was of no trifling nature. What praise is more valuable than the praise

of an intelligent servant? As a brother, a landlord, a master, she

considered how many people’s happiness were in his guardianship! How

much of pleasure or pain it was in his power to bestow! How much of good

or evil must be done by him! Every idea that had been brought forward by

the housekeeper was favourable to his character; and as she stood before

the canvas, on which he was represented, and fixed his eyes upon

herself, she thought of his regard with a deeper sentiment of gratitude

than it had ever raised before: she remembered its warmth, and softened

its impropriety of expression.
When all of the house that was open to general inspection had been seen,

they returned down stairs; and, taking leave of the housekeeper, were

consigned over to the gardener, who met them at the hall door.
As they walked across the lawn towards the river, Elizabeth turned back

to look again; her uncle and aunt stopped also; and while the former was

conjecturing as to the date of the building, the owner of it himself

suddenly came forward from the road which led behind it to the stables.
They were within twenty yards of each other; and so abrupt was his

appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes

instantly met, and the cheeks of each were overspread with the deepest

blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immovable from

surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party,

and spoke to Elizabeth,{309} if not in terms of perfect composure, at least

of perfect civility.
She had instinctively turned away; but stopping on his approach,

received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be

overcome. Had his first appearance, or his resemblance to the picture