“His father was an excellent man,”said Mrs.Gardiner.
“In what an amiable light does this place him!”thought Elizabeth.
“Perhaps we might be deceived.”
When all of the house that was open to general inspection had been seen, they returned downstairs, and, taking leave of the housekeeper,were consigned over to the gardener,who met them at the hall-door.
“This fine account of him,”whispered her aunt as they walked,“is not quite consistent with his behaviour to our poor friend.”
“Yes,sir;but I do not know when that will be.I do not know who is good enough for him.”
“I say no more than the truth, and everybody will say that knows him,”replied the other.Elizabeth thought this was going pretty far;and she listened with increasing astonishment as the housekeeper added,“I have never known a cross word from him in my life, and I have known him ever since he was four years old.”
“Yes, ma'am, that he was indeed; and his son will be just like him―just as affable to the poor.”
Elizabeth listened,wondered,doubted,and was impatient for more. Mrs. Reynolds could interest her on no other point. She related the subjects of the pictures,the dimensions of the rooms, and the price of the furniture, in vain. Mr. Gardiner, highly amused by the kind of family prejudice to which he attributed her excessive commendation of her master,soon led again to the subject; and she dwelt with energy on his many merits as they proceeded together up the great staircase.