Pemberley

“ THE Lydia, Cap'n 'Bijah's naptha-launch, drove her blunt bows vigorously through little slapping waves.
"They're right cur'ous folks out to the Light," explained the Captain, his arm on the tiller. "They ain't noways like the folks around these pa'ts, ner yet they bean't like the hotel folks, nuther. Pemberley's the name, Jim Pemberley. He's be'n keepin' the light more 'n four year now, an' yet thar ain't a man in Quimpawg knows anythin' 'bout whar he come from ner nawthin'. But he's a right pleasant-spoken feller to everybody. ”

“ As she entered the living-room a tall, tawny-haired, brown-faced person rose from the settle.
"That's my husband," said Mrs. Pemberley with a comprehensive wave of her hand, as she set a blue bake-dish upon the table. "And come and eat these crabs before their ardor cools. Don't you think you'd better light a fire, Jim? It's growing frigid."
"Perhaps I'd better," said Jim, who had gripped Joan's hand with a clasp that made her wince. "We've still some of the Thomas J. left. I'll burn a bit more to-night, as this is a special occasion." ”

“ We can ask the nice ones, like Miss Crawford and Mr. Morland, to stay with us at Pemberley."
"I am quite willing to return, my dear," replied Darcy; "but it would not do to leave before my aunt's reception, or to admit ourselves driven away by a Miss Steele."
"Of course we will stay over the sixteenth, but we will go after that; it only means a week or two less than our ordinary visit. The Wentworths are leaving, and Eleanor Portinscale is too unwell for me to see anything of her, and Aunt Catherine has her extraordinary friends to amuse her; there is really nothing to keep us. ”

“ To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go. ”

“ Pemberley swam up to the end of the pier and trode water.
"All right," he said, holding out his arms. "Jump!"
Garth pulled himself up by a post and stood erect, with his arm around it. Suddenly letting go, he collapsed neatly into the water with a royal splash, and came up in a moment, his father's arms around him and his curly hair dripping.
"Now, then," said Jim. "Hang on tight, and don't breathe in my ear, you old porpoise, you." ”

“ Though Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth's sake, he assisted him further in his profession. ”

“ Darcy, with a home like Pemberley as a standard to judge other people's houses by."
"I had not regarded Bath lodgings from that point of view," said Mr. Darcy. "Are you making a long stay here, may I ask?"
"Yes, we hope to remain for some weeks. I always enjoy Bath so much at this time of year; and so does Mr. Ferrars. I consider it infinitely preferable to the autumn season, do not you, Mr. Darcy? All the best people seem to come now, and one is not likely to meet anyone whose acquaintance one would not wish to continue afterwards." ”

“ He's done far more himself than I could do for him, he and that father and mother of his!" The doctor nodded his head gravely. "That's an extraordinary family," he said. "Well, good-bye! Good-bye, Mister Pemberley! Keep it up!"
"If I don't have something to eat pretty soon," said Garth, as they went down in the elevator, "I'm afraid I'll die, or something."
"I was just thinking that very thing,” said Joan. "We ate that omelet weeks ago, it seems to me. We'd better have lunch right away, because we've not any too much time before our train leaves." ”

“ Soon Elizabeth hears Mr. Darcy invite her uncle, who is fond of fishing, to fish in the stream while he is in the neighbourhood. Elizabeth says nothing, but it gratifies her exceedingly; the compliment must be all to herself. In place of continuing to torment herself with the reproach “Why has she been so foolish as to visit Pemberley?” she begins to ask more agreeable questions. “Why is he so altered? It cannot be for me? It cannot be for my sake his manners are thus softened? It is impossible he should still love me.” ”

“ Do not be too compassionate for me, Elizabeth. I have been a fool, to think that anything so bright and lovely should become mine. Yet I did not think she would bestow herself where she has. I was a laggard, I suppose, and I threw my chance away in Bath; and how could she wait until I had reinstated myself? No, my dream is over. You will hear of her engagement, no doubt, and I beg you to tell her that I join with you in wishes for her happiness. I shall be with you at Pemberley before long. Georgiana is an angel. I did not deserve from her one quarter of the kindness she showed me. ”

“ Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?" ”

“ Will you tell me how long you have loved him?"
"It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley." ”

“ Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Miss Bingley.
[Taken aback.] Miss Elizabeth Bennet! I am all astonishment! How long has she been such a favourite? Pray when am I to wish you joy?
Darcy.
That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid: it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.
Miss Bingley.
Nay, if you are so serious about it I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law! Of course she will always be at Pemberley with you. ”

“ And they almost always have a comb and a glass in their hand." He hesitated. "We always hoped one would come near the Light," he went on, "but I did wonder how you could have climbed in at the window. But if you aren't a mermaid, who are you?"
"I'm Miss Joan Kirkland," she said.
"That's a very nice name; I shall call you Joan. May I come in while you do up your hair? Mudder always lets me watch her do hers." He sat down in the rocking-chair with some difficulty and clasped his hands over his best knee. "My name is Garth Pemberley. I'm rather sorry you're not a mermaid," he said. ”

“ Lady Catherine.
Upon my word, you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person! Your sisters may be married before you. You must not be too ambitious. A good many young girls have lost their chances through being too ambitious. [Looking at a large picture on the wall and then pointing to it.] Mrs. Collins, I suppose you have shown Miss Bennet this print of Pemberley—Mr. Darcy's place? ”

“ The man who loves can never think himself worthy of the woman he worships: his very affection casts a glamour over her. When I told Max that I thought his wife would be a happy woman, he only smiled and said that he hoped so too. He had not the faintest idea what a hero he was in our eyes; he would not have believed me if I had told him.
Max said very little to me after that: happiness made him reticent. Only, just as he was leaving me, I said carelessly, 'Max, do you ever go to Pemberley?'
'Oh yes, sometimes, when the Calverleys are at the Hall,' he returned, rather absently. ”

“ Lady Catherine.
It is quite useless to protest. I have my facts from the best authority. Heaven knows Darcy has reason enough to keep away from Wickham's flirtations and entanglements, but [stopping herself.] that is a family affair. However, you have managed to get him mixed up in them again to the extent of five thousand pounds. But that is not enough,—you want to make this shameless girl my nephew's sister, and the son of his father's steward his brother. Heaven and Earth! Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?
Elizabeth. ”

“ Pemberley is one of the finest places in England. My daughter Anne is very fond of it, which is fortunate, since she will probably spend the most of her life there.
Charlotte.
Most fortunate, your Ladyship.
Lady Catherine.
[To Elizabeth.] You see my nephews here often, Miss Bennet?
Elizabeth.
[Mischievously.] Yes, very often, Lady Catherine.
Lady Catherine.
Humph! Well, idle young gentlemen often make very foolish use of their time. My daughter, Miss de Bourg, is unfortunately not able to accompany Mr. Darcy in his walks as often as both of them could desire.
Mr. Collins. ”

“ Reynolds, the housekeeper at Pemberley, 'but I am sure I never saw anything of it.... He is the best landlord and the best master that ever lived.'"
MR. BINGLEY— (of Netherfield, Hertfordshire, Darcy's Friend) . "Just what a young man ought to be; sensible and good-humoured, lively ... such happy manners! So much ease, with such perfect good breeding.... Also handsome, which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can."
COLONEL FITZWILLIAM— (Cousin to Darcy) . "About thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman."
MR. BENNET— (of Longbourn) . ”

“ I knew well what the chap was after, and I said to myself, "Nicky, my boy, here's another bit of white paper which the wind has sent us." Yet how they had scented us out, or whose writ it was, I couldn't think. At the same time, it wasn't for me to be putting thoughts into the constable's head, and I kept my wits about me.
"It seems to me that the village should think itself lucky to have such a man as you about, Mr. Reubens," said I, after a bit. "There's no knowing what these London chaps aren't up to nowadays. ”

“ Moreen would never consent—it would be so very hand-to-mouth,” Pemberton’s hostess beautifully explained to him. Then to Morgan she made it clearer: “It would destroy our peace, it would break our hearts. Now that he’s back it will be all the same again. You’ll have your life, your work and your freedom, and we’ll all be happy as we used to be. You’ll bloom and grow perfectly well, and we won’t have any more silly experiments, will we? They’re too absurd. It’s Mr. Pemberton’s place—every one in his place. ”

“ When they had done their work, the tallest of the three, who was dressed in black and silver and wore a mask upon his face, came up to the door of the coach and opened it. At the same time he doffed his cap and bowed with the dignity of a courtier.
“Mademoiselle,” said he, addressing Corinne, “a thousand pardons for the liberty we have taken. Be assured that I know your name well and that it is held in great reverence here. But I have laid a wager of a thousand crowns that you shall sup with me to-night at the house of the Silver Birch, and that I shall kiss you on both cheeks afterwards. ”

“ Of course at the same time that Pemberton was irritated he remembered the reason, which was very honourable to Morgan and which dwelt simply in his making one so forget that he was no more than a patched urchin. If one dealt with him on a different basis one’s misadventures were one’s own fault. So Pemberton waited in a queer confusion of yearning and alarm for the catastrophe which was held to hang over the house of Moreen, of which he certainly at moments felt the symptoms brush his cheek and as to which he wondered much in what form it would find its liveliest effect. ”

“ Whatever may have happened over yonder is hardly likely to happen in La Belle France, look at it how you like. You should think no more about it, Ferdinand. You're to win this great race, and win it you certainly will if I'm a judge. Why, then, think about a woman at all?"
"Because," he replied, and he was as grave as a judge at the moment, "because I must; I've been thinking of her ever since I picked you up. It's queer, Britten, but I do believe you're going to bring me luck, and that's as true as Gospel." ”

“ She sat with glistening eyes and fast-beating heart, and he applauded her.
“Ah,” he said, “if it were the children of France and not the adventurers! If one were quite sure that the Prussians ran, Madame.”
“But I see them!”
“As the tide of the sea, my child—now a little way receding, now surging again; but the tenth wave, that is the fellow. Look well at Wörth and tell me what you make of it. Those black helmets were beyond the river an hour ago. Now they are coming through the vineyards—they creep up inch by inch; the dead lie thick, but the living do not heed them. ”

“ Lowering himself hand under hand, Coq le Roi descended to the well. The unknown waited until he had reached the light, and had entered the dark hole above the water. Then he, too, clutched the rope—but he could not keep back the laugh from his lips.
“Ventrebleu! Sartines,” said he to himself, “a merry night to you, and a merrier day to-morrow. To be fooled by a woman at your time of life! Oh, you amuse us finely.” ”

“ Every room on the upper story shed bright golden rays from its windows. Seen in the strong moonlight, the great house had become like a palace of the fairies. The panes of glass were so many stars shining in a setting of black stone; the very attics were beacons to guide those far away in the valley. More than all, a man clothed from head to foot in black stood plain to be seen at a casement above the salon; and he it was who called to Count Charles,—
“Monsieur le Comte, Monsieur le Comte, where is your brother Eugène?” ”

“ Tell him you meant fair by me."
"If he were not a dolt he would see that for himself!" cried Sir John Humphrey next, in anger. "I brought you aboard her to shelter you from your father's pursuit, and as evidence of my good faith, I carry the parson of your parish with you. What more does the man want?"
"I want the stupidity to be deceived by your words," said I, "and for the matter of that, Sir John, you waste your breath. I married you before witnesses last night upon the foreshore at Kent, and this woman is your wife in the sight of God and the law." ”

“ Pemberton lost no time in introducing himself to the two ladies and informing them that he had a carriage waiting for them. His niece, who was superbly stylish and handsome, gave him her cheek to kiss, in the cool and perfunctory way adapted toward elderly relatives; and he had an impression that she was subjecting him to a rather critical inspection, and concluding with a sense of relief that he would pass muster. "This is my uncle, Mr. Pemberton, madame," she said in French to her companion; "Mr. Pemberton—Madame Bournouville." ”