第121章[第1頁/共6頁]

“I have heard from authority, which I thought as good, that it was left you conditionally only,and at the will of the present patron.”

“And what did she say?”

“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?”

“Yes;he introduced us to his sister.”

“I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month.We passed each other several times.I wonder what he can be doing there.”

“I almost envy you the pleasure,and yet I believe it would be too much for me,or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the old housekeeper,I suppose?Poor Reynolds,she was always very fond of me.But of course she did not mention my name to you.”

They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked fast to get rid of him;and unwilling,for her sister's sake, to provoke him, she only said in reply, with a good-humoured smile:

“I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble,my dear sister?”said he,as he joined her.