Chapter 43

           Elizabeth,astheydrovealong,watchedforthefirstappearanceofPemberleyWoodswithsomeperturbation; andwhenatlengththeyturnedinatthelodge,herspiritswereinahighflutter. 

           Theparkwasverylarge,andcontainedgreatvarietyofground. Theyentereditinoneofitslowestpoints,anddroveforsometimethroughabeautifulwoodstretchingoverawideextent. 

           Elizabeth’smindwastoofullforconversation,butshesawandadmiredeveryremarkablespotandpointofview. Theygraduallyascendedforhalf-a-mile,andthenfoundthemselvesatthetopofaconsiderableeminence,wherethewoodceased,andtheeyewasinstantlycaughtbyPemberleyHouse,situatedontheoppositesideofavalley,intowhichtheroadwithsomeabruptnesswound. Itwasalarge,handsomestonebuilding,standingwellonrisingground,andbackedbyaridgeofhighwoodyhills; andinfront,astreamofsomenaturalimportancewasswelledintogreater,butwithoutanyartificialappearance. Itsbankswereneitherformalnorfalselyadorned. Elizabethwasdelighted. Shehadneverseenaplaceforwhichnaturehaddonemore,orwherenaturalbeautyhadbeensolittlecounteractedbyanawkwardtaste. Theywereallofthemwarmintheiradmiration; andatthatmomentshefeltthattobemistressofPemberleymightbesomething! 

           Theydescendedthehill,crossedthebridge,anddrovetothedoor; and,whileexaminingtheneareraspectofthehouse,allherapprehensionofmeetingitsownerreturned. Shedreadedlestthechambermaidhadbeenmistaken. Onapplyingtoseetheplace,theywereadmittedintothehall; andElizabeth,astheywaitedforthehousekeeper,hadleisuretowonderatherbeingwhereshewas.