Such visits and diversions occupied the Darcys throughout the first the ten years of their marriage. The family often recollected the delights of their travels: the views from Exe Bridge in Devonshire, from which could be seen ships of one hundred and fifty tons, and the ingenious contrivance of the flood-gates latterly placed to protect the towns along the river from flooding; Falmouth, in Cornwall, where the fleet of English packets were sailing regularly to Lisbon, Groyne, North America, and even to the West Indies from its docks; and, the Isles of Wight and Skye, Sussex, Wessex, Essex, Wales and the roads in-between. Having travelled as far as John o’Groats in Scotland, standing nearly a thousand miles’ distance to the edge of Land’s End, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy could claim with veracity that they had indeed travelled the length and breadth of the country. The pursuit of pleasures in their own country, riding along the post roads of Britain, had not requited their taste for travel, but rather the reverse. The Darcys found themselves ready for a trip abroad, the war being at long-last over and the Peace secured; enough time was now passed to heal the wounds, and bring regular commerce to a continent long troubled.

CHAP. 16.

“I MUST SPEND some hours to-day on business of the estate, Lizzy,” began Mr. Darcy, “and, if you would not think it too fatiguing, I would be delighted if you would accompany me.” Mr. and Mrs. Darcy had finished their breakfast and were enjoying that quiet companionship formed of equal understandings and mutual pleasures, sitting together by the hour, intent upon separate occupations, yet united by the blessings of contentment and attachment. Elizabeth was at the moment engaged in the very pleasant business of letter-writing to those whose delight in her news she could most confidently depend, the one being addressed to Bingley and Jane, and the other to the her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Mr. Darcy, meanwhile, was seated in his armchair, reading the latest publication of the Annals of Agriculture, and had been quite as fully absorbed as if it had been a novel.

“I would willingly sacrifice the pleasures of my correspondents to go with you, if you like my company, Mr. Darcy. With Georgiana gone to London with your Aunt Hallendale, I am quite at leisure. If you do not wish me to the slavery of an ungrateful piano-forte, and consequently perforce witness my feminine accomplishments to an even greater degree of perfection, you must give me some excuse to preserve my defects for yet another day.”

“The case as you describe it is grave, indeed. I must save both you and the piano-forte from such a fate. You must, however, give me your solemn vow never to actually achieve perfection, for as you know, I married you for your faults and not your virtues.” Mr. Darcy smilingly kissed his wife, and suggested that they take their coffee earlier than usual that morning.