As Elizabeth and the Gardiners tour the beautiful Pemberley, the young lady cannot help but imagine what it would be like to be the mistress of this estate as Darcy’s wife. Mrs. Reynolds, the housekeeper, shows the visitors portraits of both Darcy and Wickham. She says that Darcy is a good master and that when he was a youth, he was “the sweetest, most generous-hearted boy in the world.”
She declares that she has “never had a cross word from him in [her] life.” Elizabeth is surprised to hear the housekeeper describe Darcy this way, as she finds him to be disagreeable and arrogant.
As Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle continue in their exploration of the grounds, Darcy appears. He is very polite, and is eager to join them on their walk.
Elizabeth is mortified to have Darcy find herself at Pemberley after he had so recently proposed to her, and he tells him that the only reason why she came was because she understood he was away. Darcy explains that he has come home so that he can prepare to receive a group of guests, which includes his sister, Georgiana, and the Bingleys.
He inquires if Elizabeth would like to meet his sister, and she says that she would.
After Darcy departs, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner comment on the gentleman’s good manners and good looks. What they have seen seems very different than what Elizabeth had described to them.