Chapter 33

           MorethanoncedidElizabeth,inherramblewithinthepark,unexpectedlymeetMr.Darcy. Shefeltalltheperversenessofthemischancethatshouldbringhimwherenooneelsewasbrought,and,topreventitseverhappeningagain,tookcaretoinformhimatfirstthatitwasafavouritehauntofhers. Howitcouldoccurasecondtime,therefore,wasveryodd! Yetitdid,andevenathird. Itseemedlikewilfulill-nature,oravoluntarypenance,forontheseoccasionsitwasnotmerelyafewformalinquiriesandanawkwardpauseandthenaway,butheactuallythoughtitnecessarytoturnbackandwalkwithher. Heneversaidagreatdeal,nordidshegiveherselfthetroubleoftalkingoroflisteningmuch; butitstruckherinthecourseoftheirthirdrencontrethathewasaskingsomeoddunconnectedquestions—aboutherpleasureinbeingatHunsford,herloveofsolitarywalks,andheropinionofMr.andMrs.Collins’shappiness; andthatinspeakingofRosingsandhernotperfectlyunderstandingthehouse,heseemedtoexpectthatwhenevershecameintoKentagainshewouldbestayingtheretoo. Hiswordsseemedtoimplyit. CouldhehaveColonelFitzwilliaminhisthoughts? Shesupposed,ifhemeantanything,hemustmeanandallusiontowhatmightariseinthatquarter. Itdistressedheralittle,andshewasquitegladtofindherselfatthegateinthepalesoppositetheParsonage. 

           Shewasengagedonedayasshewalked,inperusingJane’slastletter,anddwellingonsomepassageswhichprovedthatJanehadnotwritteninspirits,when,insteadofbeingagainsurprisedbyMr.Darcy,shesawonlookingupthatColonelFitzwilliamwasmeetingher. Puttingawaytheletterimmediatelyandforcingasmile,shesaid: 

           "Ididnotknowbeforethatyoueverwalkedthisway." 

           "Ihavebeenmakingthetourofthepark,"hereplied,"asIgenerallydoeveryyear,andintendtocloseitwithacallattheParsonage. Areyougoingmuchfarther?"