“From what we have seen of him，”continued Mrs. Gardiner，“I really should not have thought that he could have behaved in so cruel a way by anybody as he has done by poor Wickham.He has not an ill-natured look.On the contrary，there is something pleasing about his mouth when he speaks.And there is something of dignity in his countenance that would not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart. But， to be sure， the good lady who showed us his house did give him a most flaming character！ I could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes.But he is a liberal master，I suppose，and that in the eye of a servant comprehends every virtue.”
The observations of her uncle and aunt now began；and each of them pronounced him to be infinitely superior to anything they had expected.
Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had been the last mentioned between them；and，if she might judge by his complexion，his mind was not very differently engaged.
He then asked her to walk into the house―but she declared herself not tired，and they stood together on the lawn.At such a time much might have been said，and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk，but there seemed to be an embargo on every subject.At last she recollected that she had been travelling，and they talked of Matlock and Dovedale with great perseverance.Yet time and her aunt moved slowly―and her patience and her ideas were nearly worn our before the tête-à-tête was over.