صفحة 377 من 817

More than once did Elizabeth, in her ramble within the park,

unexpectedly meet Mr. Darcy. She felt all the perverseness of the

mischance that should bring him where no one else was brought;

and, to prevent its ever happening again, took care to inform

him, at first, that it was a favourite haunt of hers. How it

could occur a second time, therefore, was very odd! Yet it did,

and even the third. It seemed like wilful ill-nature, or a

voluntary penance; for on these occasions it was not merely a few

formal inquiries and an awkward pause and then away, but he

actually thought it necessary to turn back and walk with her. He

never said a great deal, nor did she give herself the trouble of

talking or of listening much; but it struck her in the course of

their third encounter that he was asking some odd unconnected

questions--about her pleasure in being at Hunsford, her love of

solitary walks, and her opinion of Mr. and Mrs.