第803页 / 共817页

From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr.

Darcy had been overrated, Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs.

Gardiner's long letter; but now, having that to communicate which

she knew would be most welcome, she was almost ashamed to find

that her uncle and aunt had already lost three days of happiness,

and immediately wrote as follows:--

"I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to

have done, for your long, kind, satisfactory detail of

particulars; but, to say the truth, I was too cross to write. You

supposed more than really existed. But now suppose as much as you

choose; give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in

every possible flight which the subject will afford, and unless

you believe me actually married, you cannot greatly err. You must

write again very soon, and praise him a great deal more than you

did in your last. I thank you again and again, for not going to

the Lakes. How could I be so silly as to wish it! Your idea of

the ponies is delightful. We will go round the park every day. I

am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have

said so before, but no one with such justice. I am happier even

than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the

love in the world that can be spared from me. You are all to come

to Pemberley at Christmas. Yours," etc.