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There was certainly at this moment, in Elizabeth's mind, a more

gentle sensation towards the original than she had ever felt in

the height of their acquaintance. The commendation bestowed on

him by Mrs. Reynolds was of no trifling nature. What praise is

more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant? As a

brother, a landlord, a master, she considered how many people's

happiness were in his guardianship! How much of pleasure or pain

it was in his power to bestow! How much of good or evil must be

done by him! Every idea that had been brought forward by the

housekeeper was favourable to his character; and as she stood

before the canvas, on which he was represented, and fixed his

eyes upon herself, she thought of his regard with a deeper

sentiment of gratitude than it had ever raised before: she

remembered its warmth, and softened its impropriety of

expression.