The Jane Austen Series: Pride & Prejudice LbNA #21116
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Clueless  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Mar 6, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | ??? |
| County: | Bucks |
| State: | Pennsylvania |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Found by: | ??? |
|---|---|
| Last found: | May 26, 2012 |
| Status: | FFFFF |
| Last edited: | Mar 6, 2006 |
Allow 2 hours or so. This hike is maybe 2.5 miles long, with a few good climbs, but some wonderful views, particularly in spring and fall. It’s my favorite park in the area.
Skip helped me hide these boxes. A special shout-out to Kasimir who recarved the missing Mr. Darcy.
For background on this series see the letterbox entitled “The Jane Austen Series: Jane Austen”.
“Pride and Prejudice” could be considered Jane Austen’s best work. I’ve read it several times, and find new jewels every time. For those of you thinking “I saw the movie,” let me just point out that the 5 hour BBC version is pretty true to the book – no Hollywood 2 hour version is going to do it justice.
With apologies to Jane, now on to the clues…
******
Miss Elizabeth Bennet strolled the length of the red bridge over To-Hick-Hanne, lamenting the high walls that prevented a view. No matter, the rain of the last several days had finally ceased, and she was eager to take advantage of this dry spell; she intended to find her own views.
She took off at a quick pace up the lane named in honor of the local mill owner, whose dinner party she had attended the night before. As she passed through a small village, she thought of the new friends she had made while visiting her friend Charlotte these last few weeks. Of course, she could not help but think of Lady de Bourgh, as well, the patroness to whom Charlotte’s husband was beholden. “Miss Bennett!” she would snap if she knew Elizabeth’s current plans, “I cannot bear the impropriety of your walking about by yourself! You must take my manservant. Young women should always be properly guarded and attended.”
Elizabeth paused to catch her breath, as she had taken the hill at a good clip. But she had found what she was looking for: a trail crossed the lane. She opted to head to the left, and quickly turned to head up, in pursuit of a quiet space with a private view.
She strolled a decent ways, amusing herself with thoughts of her family, particularly her father, whom she missed terribly. She crossed the edge of some fields, wondering what was farmed there. Eventually she came to a stone wall, which always filled her head with wonder at the thought of the effort that must have been involved to create one. She walked the trail beneath the wall, which afforded her a nice opportunity for its examination.
The trail began to descend, but she knew she was close to the creek and that it was time to find a spot to sit. Always full of natural curiosity, she paused to examine what was formerly a tree of two, but which was now an only child sporting an open stump. A short ways on she discovered a hole in the ground, where she looked for indications of building remains but found none. The next tree was also a former tree of two, but this one’s missing sibling had grown mossy. While examining it, she looked up towards 2 foot high stump a short ways off trail; it had formerly been a tree of three, which seemed fitting. She went over, and assessed its height as good for sitting on, its aspect private enough, and its view just right. She settled in, feeling properly hidden.
Elizabeth sat for some time, alternating between reading the letter from Jane she had brought with her and thinking about the events of the last few weeks. She had been surprised, to be sure, when Mr. Darcy arrived at his Aunt de Bourgh’s house. Elizabeth found him to be proud; his conversation was strained and his company generally unpleasant. Furthermore, she was sure that he had been instrumental in parting her beloved sister Jane from her one true love. Elizabeth had heard unkind stories of him, too, for which she could make no excuses.
Elizabeth was re-perusing Jane’s last letter, dwelling on some passages which proved that she had not written in spirits, when her calm was shattered by, “Miss Bennet, I trust that I do not intrude?”
Startled, Elizabeth turned to see that it was Mr. Darcy! Of all places for him to be! She had specifically mentioned at tea recently that she intended to walk here when the weather permitted, yet now here he was, trespassing on her repose. What could he mean by such an appearance?
After exchanging pleasantries, it suddenly dawned on Elizabeth that he intended to walk her home! There was no escape; she could not refuse him without being rude. Oh, it was insufferable! He offered her his arm, which she declined with a smile, “You are all politeness, sir.”
They proceeded down toward and along the creek. Elizabeth found that Mr. Darcy had remarkably and typically little to say for himself. At first, she was resolved not to break the silence, till suddenly fancying that it would be the greater punishment to oblige him to talk. After introducing a few subjects with little success Elizabeth remarked, “It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy – I talked about the views, and you ought to make some kind of remark about the fineness of the weather, or the dryness of the trail.”
“Do you talk by rule then, while you are walking?” he asked, which seemed sufficient conversation for both. They bid adieu to the creek for a while, ascending to higher grounds. Aside from his glances at her, the two hardly acknowledged one another. Yet, when they reached the hilltop, Mr. Darcy invited Elizabeth to continue on to see some magnificent views. Discomposed, she stammered, “But I do not know the way.” Oh, that she had thought of an excuse that demanded her presence at home!
“Fear not, Miss Bennett, the trail is marked in white the entire way.”
Without knowing how it happened, Elizabeth found herself crossing the lane and stepping onto the trail. She could hardly think! How came she to be walking the woods with the man who had destroyed her sister’s happiness?
They reached the vistas, and time after the time, she had to admit the view was spectacular. Elizabeth could not help but express raptures at such sights. Mr. Darcy, as usual, was at risk of sinking into total silence, but Elizabeth had no reserve about teasing him just a bit. There was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody.
“We should proceed towards home before we are long missed,” Mr. Darcy finally prompted, nudging Elizabeth back on to the trail on which they had come. This time she took his offered arm, for as much as she desired not to, she had to admit she was feeling tired.
When they stepped down into a gully, Elizabeth slipped and tottered and almost fell, even though it was dry at this time of the year. Alarmed, Mr. Darcy led her up to a fallen log. “Miss Bennett, pray forgive me! I should not have insisted on your seeing the views. You have overextended yourself at my particular request! This log will make a suitable bench on which to rest, I declare; I insist.”
After a bit of small talk initiated by Elizabeth, the two were silent. It never ceased to amaze Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy could have so little to say. How could a man of his standing in society be such a poor conversationalist? “Mr. Darcy, I have commented on the shag bark hickory there, perhaps you have something to say about the pile of rocks tucked under the high end of this log we are sitting upon?” But he murmured softly and Elizabeth concluded that he indeed, did not have something to say.
Elizabeth found her strength restored, and rose, in spite of Mr. Darcy’s protests to the contrary. As the return journey was mostly down hill, she found herself at her doorstep in remarkably good time. She thanked Mr. Darcy for the adventure, being sure to be crystal clear this time of where she intended to walk tomorrow. She did not care to repeat the adventure!
Skip helped me hide these boxes. A special shout-out to Kasimir who recarved the missing Mr. Darcy.
For background on this series see the letterbox entitled “The Jane Austen Series: Jane Austen”.
“Pride and Prejudice” could be considered Jane Austen’s best work. I’ve read it several times, and find new jewels every time. For those of you thinking “I saw the movie,” let me just point out that the 5 hour BBC version is pretty true to the book – no Hollywood 2 hour version is going to do it justice.
With apologies to Jane, now on to the clues…
******
Miss Elizabeth Bennet strolled the length of the red bridge over To-Hick-Hanne, lamenting the high walls that prevented a view. No matter, the rain of the last several days had finally ceased, and she was eager to take advantage of this dry spell; she intended to find her own views.
She took off at a quick pace up the lane named in honor of the local mill owner, whose dinner party she had attended the night before. As she passed through a small village, she thought of the new friends she had made while visiting her friend Charlotte these last few weeks. Of course, she could not help but think of Lady de Bourgh, as well, the patroness to whom Charlotte’s husband was beholden. “Miss Bennett!” she would snap if she knew Elizabeth’s current plans, “I cannot bear the impropriety of your walking about by yourself! You must take my manservant. Young women should always be properly guarded and attended.”
Elizabeth paused to catch her breath, as she had taken the hill at a good clip. But she had found what she was looking for: a trail crossed the lane. She opted to head to the left, and quickly turned to head up, in pursuit of a quiet space with a private view.
She strolled a decent ways, amusing herself with thoughts of her family, particularly her father, whom she missed terribly. She crossed the edge of some fields, wondering what was farmed there. Eventually she came to a stone wall, which always filled her head with wonder at the thought of the effort that must have been involved to create one. She walked the trail beneath the wall, which afforded her a nice opportunity for its examination.
The trail began to descend, but she knew she was close to the creek and that it was time to find a spot to sit. Always full of natural curiosity, she paused to examine what was formerly a tree of two, but which was now an only child sporting an open stump. A short ways on she discovered a hole in the ground, where she looked for indications of building remains but found none. The next tree was also a former tree of two, but this one’s missing sibling had grown mossy. While examining it, she looked up towards 2 foot high stump a short ways off trail; it had formerly been a tree of three, which seemed fitting. She went over, and assessed its height as good for sitting on, its aspect private enough, and its view just right. She settled in, feeling properly hidden.
Elizabeth sat for some time, alternating between reading the letter from Jane she had brought with her and thinking about the events of the last few weeks. She had been surprised, to be sure, when Mr. Darcy arrived at his Aunt de Bourgh’s house. Elizabeth found him to be proud; his conversation was strained and his company generally unpleasant. Furthermore, she was sure that he had been instrumental in parting her beloved sister Jane from her one true love. Elizabeth had heard unkind stories of him, too, for which she could make no excuses.
Elizabeth was re-perusing Jane’s last letter, dwelling on some passages which proved that she had not written in spirits, when her calm was shattered by, “Miss Bennet, I trust that I do not intrude?”
Startled, Elizabeth turned to see that it was Mr. Darcy! Of all places for him to be! She had specifically mentioned at tea recently that she intended to walk here when the weather permitted, yet now here he was, trespassing on her repose. What could he mean by such an appearance?
After exchanging pleasantries, it suddenly dawned on Elizabeth that he intended to walk her home! There was no escape; she could not refuse him without being rude. Oh, it was insufferable! He offered her his arm, which she declined with a smile, “You are all politeness, sir.”
They proceeded down toward and along the creek. Elizabeth found that Mr. Darcy had remarkably and typically little to say for himself. At first, she was resolved not to break the silence, till suddenly fancying that it would be the greater punishment to oblige him to talk. After introducing a few subjects with little success Elizabeth remarked, “It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy – I talked about the views, and you ought to make some kind of remark about the fineness of the weather, or the dryness of the trail.”
“Do you talk by rule then, while you are walking?” he asked, which seemed sufficient conversation for both. They bid adieu to the creek for a while, ascending to higher grounds. Aside from his glances at her, the two hardly acknowledged one another. Yet, when they reached the hilltop, Mr. Darcy invited Elizabeth to continue on to see some magnificent views. Discomposed, she stammered, “But I do not know the way.” Oh, that she had thought of an excuse that demanded her presence at home!
“Fear not, Miss Bennett, the trail is marked in white the entire way.”
Without knowing how it happened, Elizabeth found herself crossing the lane and stepping onto the trail. She could hardly think! How came she to be walking the woods with the man who had destroyed her sister’s happiness?
They reached the vistas, and time after the time, she had to admit the view was spectacular. Elizabeth could not help but express raptures at such sights. Mr. Darcy, as usual, was at risk of sinking into total silence, but Elizabeth had no reserve about teasing him just a bit. There was a mixture of sweetness and archness in her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody.
“We should proceed towards home before we are long missed,” Mr. Darcy finally prompted, nudging Elizabeth back on to the trail on which they had come. This time she took his offered arm, for as much as she desired not to, she had to admit she was feeling tired.
When they stepped down into a gully, Elizabeth slipped and tottered and almost fell, even though it was dry at this time of the year. Alarmed, Mr. Darcy led her up to a fallen log. “Miss Bennett, pray forgive me! I should not have insisted on your seeing the views. You have overextended yourself at my particular request! This log will make a suitable bench on which to rest, I declare; I insist.”
After a bit of small talk initiated by Elizabeth, the two were silent. It never ceased to amaze Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy could have so little to say. How could a man of his standing in society be such a poor conversationalist? “Mr. Darcy, I have commented on the shag bark hickory there, perhaps you have something to say about the pile of rocks tucked under the high end of this log we are sitting upon?” But he murmured softly and Elizabeth concluded that he indeed, did not have something to say.
Elizabeth found her strength restored, and rose, in spite of Mr. Darcy’s protests to the contrary. As the return journey was mostly down hill, she found herself at her doorstep in remarkably good time. She thanked Mr. Darcy for the adventure, being sure to be crystal clear this time of where she intended to walk tomorrow. She did not care to repeat the adventure!