Chapter 41

Thinking of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth wanted to ask if they were there, but she felt that it was inappropriate and she was struggling. She heard her uncle ask this sentence on her behalf. Elizabeth had no expression on her face but her ears were listening carefully. I only heard Mrs. Renault reply that he was indeed not at home.Then he said, "But I will go home tomorrow, and I will bring many friends." Elizabeth was a little disappointed when she heard that, because according to the schedule, they would not be in Bloomberg tomorrow.

Her aunt sent her to see a portrait.As she drew nearer, she saw that it was Wickham's portrait, hung with several other miniatures over the mantelpiece.Mrs. Gardner's complexion was a little bit bad. You must know that they just came from Longbourn. We all know about Wickham and Miss King. Such a low-quality person can have a portrait hanging here. Mrs. Gardner was shocked The impression of Darcy's family dropped directly by 10 percentage points.Fortunately, it was the housekeeper's grandmother who came and said that the young man in the portrait was the son of the old master's accountant, and he was raised by the old master.

She added: "He's in the army now, and I'm afraid he's become quite a loafer."

Both Mrs. Gardner and Elizabeth agreed in their hearts.It seems that Mr. Wickham's reputation here is not very good.

Madame Reynolds pointed to another portrait and said, "This is my little master. The painting is very similar. It was painted at the same time as that one, about eight years ago."

Mrs. Gardiner looked at the portrait and said: "I often hear people say that your master is a good-looking man, and his face is indeed beautiful... But, Lizzie, tell me, does the painting look like it?" .”

Madame Reynaud's attitude towards her was all the more respectful when she heard that Elizabeth was acquainted with her master.

"The lady was acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"

Even Elizabeth blushed, and could only say, "I'm not very familiar."

"Do you think he is a very handsome young master, madam?"

"Yes, very pretty." Elizabeth had no need to lie about this, but she really thought handsome was a better description of Mr. Darcy.

"I dare say I never saw such a handsome man; and there is a portrait of him upstairs in the studio, larger and better than this one. The old master was fond of this room when he was alive, and the placement of these portraits It's still the same as before. He likes the miniatures."

Only then did Elizabeth understand why Mr. Wickham's portrait was also put together.The preferences of the ancestors will indeed tolerate the portrait of such a person according to Mr. Darcy's temperament.

Madame Reynolds then pointed out to them a portrait of Miss Darcy, drawn when she was eight years old.

"Is Miss Darcy as handsome as her brother?" asked Mr. Gardner.

"Oh, it goes without saying... There never was such a beautiful lady, and so many talents! She plays and sings all day long. In the next room is a piano just bought for her, a gift from my master, She'll be back with him tomorrow."

"Lizzie, I heard that Miss Darcy also lived in Longbourn. How are you doing together?"

"That lady has a kind heart, and the relationship between her and Jane is the best. They talk about everything." Elizabeth also had a good impression of Miss Darcy.

Mrs. Reynolds was very pleased with Elizabeth's evaluation of Miss Darcy.In her opinion, there is no one better than her own master, and she is more kind to these guests.

And Elizabeth found it strange how Mrs. Reynolds looked at her.

The grandma housekeeper saw Mr. Gardner's easygoing manner and asked him questions and answers.Madame Reynolds was very happy to speak of her master's brother and sister, either out of pride in them, or out of a deep friendship with them.

"Does your master spend much of the year at Pemberley?"

"Not so much, sir, as I'd hoped. He'll be here about the first half of the year; Miss Darcy is always here for the summer."

"If your master is married, you will see him more often."

"Yes, sir; but I don't know how long it will take place. I don't know which lady is worthy of him." Madame Reynolds said, looking at Elizabeth.

The Gardners both laughed.Thinking of Mr. Darcy's iceberg face and character that is not very popular with girls, Elizabeth couldn't help saying, "You are right, I am afraid Mr. Darcy thinks the same way, so you know he is always very serious when he treats young ladies. Serious and demanding."

Madame Reynolds certainly knew what Elizabeth meant.

"Mr. Darcy has received the strictest education since he was a child. His father, old Mr. Darcy, hoped that he could become a qualified gentleman, so Mr. Darcy is a bit serious but he is definitely an excellent gentleman. I have never heard of him in my life. A heavy word, I've been with him since he was four years old."

Uncle Gardiner said again: "There are very few people who deserve such a compliment. You are really lucky to have such a good master."

"You're really right, sir. I myself know good luck. I've traveled all over the world, and I've never met a better master. I often say that if you have a good temper when you are young, you will be good-tempered when you grow up; He was the boy with the best temper and the biggest stomach since he was a child."

Of course, Elizabeth didn't really believe such words, not to mention the image Darcy gave him, how could the patriarch of such a family really have no temper, but she herself was also very strict at times, these her subordinates and her family's subordinates People are deeply touched.

However, this did not prevent Elizabeth from continuing to listen. She could extract the information she wanted from it, but Mrs. Renault couldn't think of anything else to arouse her interest.She talked about portraits, about the size of the room, about the price of the furniture, but she didn't like to hear it.Mr. Gardiner amused himself by the prejudice of the family that this Mrs. Reynolds exaggerated the praise of her own master, and immediately resumed the subject.Talking vigorously of his many virtues, she led them up the grand staircase.

"He's an enlightened landowner, and the best of masters;" she said, "he's not like the wild young men of today, who think only of themselves. There isn't a single tenant or servant who doesn't praise him. Some say he's haughty." ; but I've never seen any arrogance in him. I suppose he's just not as talkative as the average young man is."

Mrs. Gardiner whispered to Elizabeth: "If this Mr. Darcy is half as good as she said, then he is really a good husband candidate! Lizzie, although your mother is not very reliable sometimes, she Hope you sisters all have a good home to think of is really plausible."

Mrs. Gardner is very concerned about her excellent niece. Elizabeth is undoubtedly very excellent, much better than most boys, but this is also what she is worried about. Girls are all going to marry. Elizabeth herself is so excellent. Of course, her demands on her husband will be even higher.Such men are not without but most of them are no longer young and have families.Mrs. Gardner really has no idea what kind of person Elizabeth wants to match.

When they reached the spacious hall upstairs, they were ushered into a handsome sitting-room, recently furnished, more refined and fresher than many of the downstairs rooms, and it was said that it had just been tidied up for special use. For Miss Darcy's enjoyment, for she had her eye on the room at Pemberley last year.

"He's really a good brother," said Elizabeth, going up to a window.

Grandma Renault reckoned how pleased Miss Darcy would be when she entered the room.She said: "He's always been like that. Anything that pleases his sister, he does it right away. He's never been against her for anything."

There remained only the studio and two or three principal bedrooms to show them.

There are many beautiful oil paintings on display in the studio, but it is a pity that Elizabeth has seen too much of Buckingham Palace, and it seems that these paintings have been seen downstairs, so she turned her head to look at some chalk paintings by Miss Darcy Paintings, because although the themes of these paintings are not very intriguing, the vitality of the girl can be seen from them.

The studio is full of family portraits, and strangers will not be interested in seeing them.Elizabeth walked up and down, looking for the portrait of the familiar face; at last she came upon one which looked very much like Mr. Darcy, and saw him smiling just as he had looked before.She stood in front of this portrait for a few minutes, completely admiring it, and before leaving the studio, she went back to look at it again.Madame Reynolds told them that the portrait had been painted during his father's lifetime.

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