Chapter Twenty Eight

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Every object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to Jimin; and his spirits were in a state of enjoyment; for he had seen his brother looking so well as to banish all fear for his health, and the prospect of his northern tour was a co...

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Every object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to Jimin; and his spirits were in a state of enjoyment; for he had seen his brother looking so well as to banish all fear for his health, and the prospect of his northern tour was a constant source of delight.

When they left the high road for the lane to Hunsford, every eye was in search of the Parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. The palings of Rosings Park was their boundary on one side. Jimin smiled at the recollection of all that he had heard of its inhabitants.

At length the Parsonage was discernible. The garden sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales, and the laurel hedge, everything declared they were arriving. Minseok and Jisoo appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at the small gate which led by a short gravel walk to the house, amidst the nods and smiles of the whole party. In a moment they were all out of the chaise, rejoicing at the sight of each other. Mrs. Kang welcomed her friend with the liveliest pleasure, and Jimin was more and more satisfied with coming when he found himself so affectionately received. He saw instantly that his cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage; his formal civility was just what it had been, and he detained Jimin some minutes at the gate to hear and satisfy his inquiries after all his family. They were then, with no other delay than his pointing out the neatness of the entrance, taken into the house; and as soon as they were in the parlour, he welcomed them a second time, with ostentatious formality to his humble abode, and punctually repeated all his mate's offers of refreshment.

Jimin was prepared to see him in his glory; and he could not help in fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its aspect and its furniture, Minseok addressed himself particularly to him, as if wishing to make him feel what he had lost in refusing him. But though everything seemed neat and comfortable, he was not able to gratify him by any sigh of repentance, and rather looked with wonder at his friend that she could have so cheerful an air with such a companion.

When Minseok said anything of which his mate might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, Jimin involuntarily turned his eye on Jisoo. Once or twice he could discern a faint blush; but in general Jisoo wisely did not hear.

After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had happened in London, Minseok invited them to take a stroll in the garden, which was large and well laid out, and to the cultivation of which he attended himself. To work in this garden was one of his most respectable pleasures; and Jimin admired the command of countenance with which Jisoo talked of the healthfulness of the exercise, and owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the fields in every direction, and could tell how many tress there were in the most distant clump.

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