817페이지 중 508페이지

They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the

door; and, while examining the nearer aspect of the house, all

her apprehension of meeting its owner returned. She dreaded lest

the chambermaid had been mistaken. On applying to see the place,

they were admitted into the hall; and Elizabeth, as they waited

for the housekeeper, had leisure to wonder at her being where she

was.

The housekeeper came; a respectable looking elderly woman, much

less fine, and more civil, than she had any notion of finding

her. They followed her into the dining-parlour. It was a large,

well-proportioned room, handsomely fitted up. Elizabeth, after

slightly surveying it, went to a window to enjoy its prospect.

The hill, crowned with wood, from which they had descended,

receiving increased abruptness from the distance, was a beautiful

object. Every disposition of the ground was good; and she looked

on the whole scene, the river, the trees scattered on its banks,

and the winding of the valley, as far as she could trace it, with

delight. As they passed into other rooms, these objects were

taking different positions; but from every window there were

beauties to be seen.