Elizabeth could not oppose such modesty and felt that the true degree of Lady Hallendale’s exertions toward the restoration of the Hallendale estates, daily providing a more dependable future for Lord Hallendale and his sons, might well go unknown to anyone but herself, and, perhaps Mr. Darcy.

CHAP. 10.

ELIZABETH OFTEN FOUND a reason to visit her aunt and uncle Hallendale, especially when Mr. Darcy was called away on some matter of business, and regarded Lady Sarah as ample compensation for the vexation occasioned by her acquisition of the other of Mr. Darcy’s aunts, Lady Catherine. Elizabeth was not business-minded, but appreciated the large rôle the Countess had appropriated to herself in the management of the Hallendale estates. Her Ladyship was invariably to be found sitting of a morning before the large mahogany bureau in the estate office, across from the great field maps, torn and brown from years of use. She would come down before the others to work in her day-gown, a shawl about her shoulders, her curly, dark hair under a cap more off than on, surrounded by a sea of account-books and papers. Invariably, she would greet Elizabeth with a smile and an invitation to sit with her, if she were at leisure. Lizzy was well aware that any leisure in the present case was her own, and so attempted to pass through the offices on her way to breakfast, and stopt only long enough to wish Lady Hallendale a good morning.

“Lizzy, pray do sit down and visit with me. These papers have no end, so I may as well indulge myself in a little pleasure,” replied Her Ladyship. “Lord Hallendale is gone to view some specimens recently come from America, and is likely to be gone the whole day. Are you finding your stay pleasant, my dear?”

Elizabeth replied in the affirmative, glancing about at the papers, littering Lady Sarah’s desk, and tumbling from the various drawers and pigeon-holes of the estate cabinet behind her, open, shut, and in some attitude in-between, each with labels for receipts, notes and bills, writing papers, &c., all seeming to be ready to start an avalanche, which would easily be capable of burying her small person entirely. The sheaves of paper appeared in no regular system, but Lady Sarah moved amongst the various deposits and drawers with a method and an assurance Elizabeth could only wonder at. Elizabeth asked what occupied her aunt this morning.