Elizabeth was thoughtful for just a moment and asked, “What is your wish, Mr. Darcy? Surely it would be an encumbrance to your business to have three women along, and would complicate travel, surely. Manchester is not so very far, but I see no need to put you and Mr. Parker to such inconvenience, unless you especially desire we come.”

Darcy replied, “I could never find pleasure in any journey without your company; however, we can surely travel much more expeditiously on horse-back than in the chaise.”

“As I believe myself to be a rational creature, Mr. Darcy,” replied Elizabeth with a smile, “I shall willingly compound for a few quiet days at Pemberley with Georgiana and Mrs. Parker in order to secure your sooner return, so long as you assure me,” she laughed, “that you firmly believe me to prefer, in fact, bouncing along the mud and ruts the length and breadth of Derbyshire, to sitting in our elegant rooms at Pemberley. It is only your business and your earlier return that I consider in declining the pleasure. What sort of lady is Mrs. Parker?”

Mr. Darcy smiled. “I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Parker. I believe that she is a country-woman, and that she and Mr. Parker have several young children.”

“Oh!” exclaimed Elizabeth, “Does she bring the children?”

“No,” replied Darcy, “I believe the children remain behind in Sussex.”

“Do I understand that Mr. Parker is acquainted with Mr. Lee? Is that why you go?” asked Elizabeth.

“Yes, Mr. Lee has made extensive use of the coal-gas to light his manufactories. Mr. Parker is very sanguine on the employment of the coal-gas for lighting and has been studying its use for some time. He is a partner with a Mr. Winsor in London, and they are looking for share-holders. And,” continued Mr. Darcy, “as our estates encompass several collieries, we would naturally wish for the use of the coal-gas as a replacement for candle-light for the manufactories as well as in the domestic sphere—Mr. Lee’s own house is already fitted with gas-lights. Apparently, according to Parker, the cost of gas-light is one-quarter of that for candle-light, and the coal-gas provides a superior light.”

“Coal-gas must, indeed, then, be an improvement, as the cost of candles to the poor is a large expense. But, is it safe? Although it would be hard to imagine anything which does more actual evil than a lighted candle in a small, crowded room, it is still the danger that we know,” replied Elizabeth.