Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 405 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 405

Pride and Prejudice

This was a lucky recollectionit saved her from

something very like regret.

She longed to inquire of the housekeeper whether

her master was really absent, but had not the courage

for it. At length however, the question was asked by

her uncle; and she turned away with alarm, while

Mrs. Reynolds replied that he was, adding, “But we

expect him to-morrow, with a large party of friends.”

How rejoiced was Elizabeth that their own journey had

not by any circumstance been delayed a day!

Her aunt now called her to look at a picture. She

approached and saw the likeness of Mr. Wickham,

suspended, amongst several other miniatures, over the

mantelpiece. Her aunt asked her, smilingly, how she

liked it. The housekeeper came forward, and told them

it was a picture of a young gentleman, the son of her

late master’s steward, who had been brought up by him

at his own expense. “He is now gone into the army,” she

added; “but I am afraid he has turned out very wild.”

Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece with a smile, but

Elizabeth could not return it.

“And that,” said Mrs. Reynolds, pointing to another

of the miniatures, “is my masterand very like him. It

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