第90章[第1页/共5页]

With the mention of Derbyshire there were many ideas connected. It was impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its owner.“But surely,”said she,“I may enter his county without impunity,and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me.”

Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity.“If it were merely a fine house richly furnished,”said she,“I should not care about it myself; but the grounds are delightful.They have some of the finest woods in the country.”

It is not the object of this work to give a deion of Derbyshire, nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay;Oxford,Blenheim,Warwick,Kenilworth,Birmingham, etc. are sufficiently known.A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern.To the little town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner's former residence, and where she had lately learned some acquaintance still remained,they bent their steps, after having seen all the principal wonders of the country; and within five miles of Lambton, Elizabeth found from her aunt that Pemberley was situated.It was not in their direct road,nor more than a mile or two out of it.In talking over their route the evening before,Mrs.Gardiner expressed an inclination to see the place again.Mr.Gardiner declared his willingness,and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation.