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That satisfied the boy entirely. Mrs. Bell ceased apologizing and began to describe the kindness of her daughter, who had made up a bed for her despite possessing very little room to spare. Darcy listened. He knew the daughter’s cottage and had passed it many times without considering what it would require to add two people to the household overnight.

Elizabeth asked whether Mrs. Bell’s basket had dried without damage. This led to an account of Sally carrying dry cloths from Pemberley, the boy fetching fuel, and the cook sending enough food that the daughter had insisted upon returning a dish herself rather than trust Sam with it.

“I broke one last Christmas,” Sam said. “She remembers.”

“As mothers will,” Elizabeth replied.

Darcy thought of Bingley’s account of Mrs. Bennet and the household at Longbourn. Miss Bennet had a ready answer for a child, an old woman, or a friend. He had begun to understand how much effort she devoted to having only a polite one for him.

The room had grown warm. Sir, who had entered behind Sally, lay across the threshold with his nose outside. Darcy directed him to move when Mrs. Bell wished to show Elizabeth the little patch behind the cottage. The dog rose reluctantly and followed them round the wall.

A wooden plate stood upon the bench with a thick piece of bread upon it. Sir reached it before Darcy could call him back.

“My bread!” Sam cried.

“Sir!” Elizabeth cried.

The dog turned his head. Half the bread had already disappeared, and the other half could not be saved by the time Darcy caught his collar.

Sam stared at the empty plate.

Darcy looked down at the animal, who swallowed with an expression of complete innocence.

“That was not yours.”

Sir attempted to lick his hand.

Elizabeth crouched beside the bench. “I am very sorry. You offered us your best stool, and we have repaid you by bringing a thief.”

“He was hungry,” Sam said, though his disappointment was plain.

“He is frequently persuaded of that,” Darcy replied. “It does not make him correct.”

Mrs. Bell had already begun saying that there was more bread in the kitchen. Elizabeth did not allow the assurance to end the matter.

“I shall ask Cook for a basket from Pemberley,” she told Sam. “Bread, and butter to put upon it, and a piece of cake if she can spare one. I will bring it myself tomorrow morning.”

“You need not trouble, miss,” Mrs. Bell said.

“It is no trouble. I am very fond of walking, and I should like to arrive with something your guest has not eaten.”

Sam looked at Sir. “Will he come?”

“Would you like him to?”

The boy nodded.

“Then he may come to apologize. But you must put your breakfast somewhere higher.”

Darcy still held the dog’s collar. He ought to have promised the basket before Elizabeth did. The dog was his responsibility, and there were several servants who could carry it without inconveniencing a guest. Yet the pleasure upon Sam’s face was for the promised visit as well as the cake.

“I shall accompany you,” Darcy said to Elizabeth, “if you will permit it. His conduct is chiefly my concern.”

She glanced up at him. For a moment he thought she would find a reason to decline.

“Then you may carry the basket,” she said.

“I had hoped to be entrusted with something.”