Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 403 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 403

Pride and Prejudice

stone building, standing well on rising ground, and

backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a

stream of some natural importance was swelled into

greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks

were neither formal nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was

delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature

had done more, or where natural beauty had been so

little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all

of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment

she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be

something!

They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and

drove to the door; and, while examining the nearer

aspect of the house, all her apprehension of meeting its

owner returned. She dreaded lest the chambermaid had

been mistaken. On applying to see the place, they were

admitted into the hall; and Elizabeth, as they waited

for the housekeeper, had leisure to wonder at her being

where she was.

The housekeeper came; a respectable-looking el-

derly woman, much less fine, and more civil, than

she had any notion of finding her. They followed

her into the dining-parlour. It was a large, well

proportioned room, handsomely fitted up. Elizabeth,

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