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She had instinctively turned away; but stopping on his approach,

received his compliments with an embarrassment impossible to be

overcome. Had his first appearance, or his resemblance to the

picture they had just been examining, been insufficient to assure

the other two that they now saw Mr. Darcy, the gardener's

expression of surprise, on beholding his master, must immediately

have told it. They stood a little aloof while he was talking to

their niece, who, astonished and confused, scarcely dared lift

her eyes to his face, and knew not what answer she returned to

his civil inquiries after her family. Amazed at the alteration of

his manner since they last parted, every sentence that he uttered

was increasing her embarrassment; and every idea of the

impropriety of her being found there recurring to her mind, the

few minutes in which they continued together were some of the

most uncomfortable of her life.