Every Line of Dialogue by Mr Darcy

 

Every Line of Dialogue by Mr. Darcy

A Close Reading and Paraphrasing of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

by Michelle Llewellyn

michellothegreat@yahoo.com

 

In this close reading analysis focusing on every line of narration by Mr. Darcy as found in Jane Austin’s celebrated Pride and Prejudice, I have taken the liberty of copying down every line of spoken dialogue by Mr. Darcy as printed in Jane Austen’s novel interspersed by other character’s actions and dialogue which have been paraphrased for consistency and clarification.

 

In total, I counted 127 occurrences of spoken dialogue by Mr. Darcy.

 

As any die-hard fan of the book knows, the very first time we meet Mr. Darcy and the very first line he speaks in the novel occurs in Chapter 3 at a neighborhood ball hosted by an unnamed family-where Elizabeth Bennet just happens to overhear this conversation between Charles Bingley, whom she has already met, and his distinguished friend, Mr. Darcy, whom everyone has already heard of since he is SO RICH but nobody really knows anything about him-except for the obvious fact that he must be in need of a wife for he is also VERY SINGLE!!!

 

And here we go…

 

Bingley is urging his friend to go ask a girl to dance; there are plenty to choose from.

 

11.  p. 8 “I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”

Oh, he is fastidious!

2.      2.  p. 8 “You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

Yes, Bingley is quite taken with her but she has sisters and THEY are just as pretty. Look there’s one of them now sitting over there.

3.     3.  p. 8 “Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”

 

The ball ends shortly thereafter and Elizabeth’s first impression of Mr. Darcy is not promising.

 

An informal gathering at Lucas Lodge is Elizabeth's next encounter with Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth is standing nearby with her best friend, Charlotte Lucas. Both are scheming how to engage Darcy in conversation. Impulsive, Elizabeth turns and says to Darcy-“Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?”

 

4.    4.   p. 19 “With great energy;-but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic.”

 

Still at the party at Lucas Lodge, Elizabeth has already played and sang as encouraged by Charlotte, now Mary is playing so the young folks can enjoy a dance or two…Charlotte’s father, Sir William Lucas, turns and engages Darcy in conversation of the lively scene before them. Nothing like dancing, eh?

 

5.     5.  p. 20 “Certainly, Sir;-and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance.”

Sir William remarks he saw Bingley dance at the last gathering and he assumes Darcy also enjoys the activity?

6.      6. p. 20 “You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir?”

 Sir William then asks if Darcy ever dances at the court of St. James to which Darcy replies,

7.    7.  p. 20 “Never, sir.”

Lucas prods even further, if it would not be a great compliment to stand up and do so whenever he has the pleasure of spending time there?

8.      8. p. 20 “It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it.”

 

With the young people still enjoying the dancing, Sir William now attempts to play matchmaker. Elizabeth declines the opportunity to stand up with Darcy in the next informal dance, despite narration telling us Darcy "with grave propriety" did request the honor and she moves away. Miss Caroline Bingley has noticed Darcy appears a little TOO interested in her competition over the most eligible bachelor in town. Caroline moves in to stake her own claim on him but Darcy is still staring broodily at Elizabeth. Miss Bingley thinks she can guess what he is now thinking?

 

9.    9.   p. 21 “I should imagine not.”

You are bored to tears by all this lower class frivolity-am I right?

1010.  p. 22 “Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”

Narration tells us Miss Bingley then pressed him for a name-who could that be?

11 11.  p. 22 “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

Ah! Then congratulations! When can we expect the wedding?

1212.  p. 22 “That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy.”

Miss Bingley makes a snide remark on the mother-in-law he will be stuck with if the nuptials were to take place and, supposing Darcy’s dark and brooding manner to mean he is still “on the market,” continues to engage him in witty conversation, and thus ends Chapter 6.

 

Thanks to her mother’s insistence she ride on horseback in the pouring rain to Netherfield, Jane has fallen ill and Elizabeth is here to keep her company where she has been welcomed and encouraged to remain as long as her sister needs her which she gratefully accepted. It is now evening of this first day and the moment dinner was over Elizabeth retired upstairs to continue looking after Jane, leaving Miss Bingley free to make her competition look as bad as possible in the eyes of her crush, Darcy. Was she not a hideous sight to behold today when she crashed our party? You certainly would never allow YOUR sister to make such a display of herself?

 

1313.  p. 29 “Certainly not.”

And her eyes are not so fine now, eh?

1414.  p. 30 “Not at all,” he replied; “they were brightened by the exercise.”

Topic of conversation then turns to the Bennets’ poor relations who live in Cheapside which Bingley does not judge them, no, not for a moment. Darcy then adds his own comment…

1515.  p. 30 “But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world.”

 

Despite their snobby view of the family, narration tells us the Bingley sisters did go upstairs to sit with Jane for a bit before taking leave and Elizabeth, seeing her sister now asleep, supposed she better keep up appearances by returning downstairs to hang out with her host and the rest of the party currently entertaining themselves in card games. We assume Darcy is also seated at the card table engaged in play. Declining the invitation to join them, Elizabeth picks up a book and tries to read. Miss Bingley is quick to comment on this choice of activity before remarking on Darcy’s own huge, personal library at his enormous estate called Pemberley.

1616. p. 31 “It ought to be good,” he replied, “it has been the work of many generations.”

“And you are always buying books,” she adds

1717.  p. 31 “I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.”

 

With such fascinating conversation distracting her, Elizabeth has by now laid down her book and wandered over to the card table to observe. Caroline Bingley plays a card and asks after Darcy’s sister, “Has she grown as tall as me?”

 

1818.  p. 32 “I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s height, or rather taller.”

“And she is so accomplished,” Miss Bingley gushes. Her brother then proceeds to list all the attributes which make up “the perfect woman.”

1919.  p. 32 “Your list of the common extent of accomplishments,” said Darcy, “has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse, or covering a screen. But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen, in the whole range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished.”

Elizabeth now joins the conversation observing to Darcy his agreement with Bingley’s subject of what makes up an accomplished woman and his comprehension of it.

2020.  p. 32 “Yes; I do comprehend a great deal in it.”

 

Not to be outdone, Miss Bingley adds the final, impossible, traits a woman MUST possess in order to catch a beau. 

 

2121.  p. 33 “All this she must possess,” added Darcy, “and to all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.”

Elizabeth gives her famous witty answer at Darcy knowing only SIX such women-if any!

2222. p. 33 “Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt the possibility of all this?” (he asks her)

Well, Elizabeth has certainly never met any in real life. Narration tells us Bingley’s sisters then burst into a long list of many women of their acquaintance who did, indeed, fit the men’s wishes. Elizabeth exits the room and, again, Miss Bingley is free to abuse Elizabeth as much as she wishes so she might make herself look better in the eyes of Darcy who is fully aware of what she is trying to do as he comments…

2323.  p. 33 “Undoubtedly,” replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, “there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.”

 

Next morning, Mrs. Bennet arrives at Netherfield after breakfast to check on her daughter and let Bingley know how much she appreciates their gracious hospitality in letting Jane stay as long as needed to recover. Elizabeth is also glad to learn Bingley has no immediate plans to sell his newly acquired country house and move back to the city or “Town” as London was referred to in those days. Elizabeth tells them she enjoys doing character studies of country folk which now include both Bingley and Darcy.

2424.  p. 35 “The country,” said Darcy, “can in general supply but few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.”

 

Conversation has now turned to Jane as Mrs. Bennet brags her oldest once had a man interested in her, even wrote a few verses on Jane’s beauty and presented them to her but, sadly, the relationship never progressed beyond that. So much for sonnets nurturing love’s growth!

 

2525. p. 37 “I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love,” said Darcy.

 

Elizabeth observes he also smiles, probably for the first time in the entire book, at another silly, overcompensating statement made by her flaky mother on the subject of courting. Fifteen year old Lydia then reminds Bingley of his promise to give a ball which he immediately agrees to do and Chapter 9 ends.

 

That night after dinner, Elizabeth again joins the party in the drawing-room as she has been doing since her arrival, but tonight she brought some needlework-perhaps to avoid a possible repeat on the subject of a woman reading books! Dominating the conversation, as usual, is Miss Bingley who is occupied in doing nothing but sitting near Darcy seated at a writing desk giving the reader, and Elizabeth, a running commentary on the letter he is busily scribbling to his sister. He must be a very fast writer, indeed.

 

2626. p.39 “You are mistaken. I write rather slowly.”

Caroline pities the man who must write many letters, including letters of business as well as pleasure-how odious!

2727. p. 39 “It is fortunate, then, that they fall to my lot instead of to yours.”

I long to see you sister-put that in!

2828. p. 39 “I have already told her so once, by your desire.”

I’m REALLY good at pen maintenance-would you like me to do yours?

2929.  p. 39 “Thank you-but I always mend my own.”

Give your sister my compliments on her progress on the harp and her recent table design.

3030. p. 40 “Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again?-At present I have not room to do them justice.”

Do you always write charming long letters?

3131.  p. 40 “They are generally long; but whether always charming, it is not for me to determine.”

Here, her brother chimed in at Darcy's opinion of his own work: his studious friend’s letters are very intellectual. Words with four syllables are his specialty.

3232. p. 40 “My style of writing is very different from yours.”

Charles Bingley humbly admits his letters are always a complete mess, he can never keep his ideas organized properly. Elizabeth comments on his humility and Darcy replies…

3333. p. 40 “Nothing is more deceitful,” said Darcy, “than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.”

 

Bingley asks for further insight into this observation. Mr. Darcy then launches into the longest speech we’ve heard from Darcy in the book thus far:

3434. p. 40 “The indirect boast,-for you are really proud of your defects in writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of thought and carelessness of execution, which if not estimable, you think at least highly interesting. The power of doing anything with quickness is always much prized by the professor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance. When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself-and yet what is there so very laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or any else?”

 

Bingley cries nay to any precipitance (the word means to rush headlong into something, rash, hasty, we don’t really use it anymore unless talking about the weather-as in precipitation!) in order to show off to the ladies.

3535. p. 41 “I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means convinced that you would be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as dependent on chance as that of any man I know; and if, as you were mounting your horse, a friend were to say, ‘Bingley, you had better stay till next week,’ you would probably do it, you would probably not go-and, at another word, might stay a month.”

 

Elizabeth points out Darcy’s speech only validated Bingley’s excellent character. Bingley agrees, pleased his sweetness of temper was made much of by both Darcy and Liz BUT if he were to refuse to stay and “ride off” as fast as he could (referencing Darcy’s little story) they both might not think so well of him. The matter is left to Darcy who again gives a long speech…

 

3636. p. 41 “You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine, but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however, to stand according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house, and the delay of his plans, has merely desired it, asked it without offering one argument in favour of its propriety.”

Elizabeth points out persuasion from said friend might yield such a person to stay

3737. p.42 “To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of either.”

 

Elizabeth reminds him of the importance of friendship and that such relations between two people should not alter the good opinion of the other, not in the slightest. Not if they are such good friends and understand each other’s character.

3838. p.42 “Will it not be advisable, before we proceed on this subject to arrange with rather more precision the degree of importance of intimacy subsisting between the parties?”

 

Bingley cries out the truth of Darcy’s suggestion for he, himself, if very intimate with his friend knows exactly how Darcy would behave were it a Sunday evening and he had callers and secretly wanted them to stay longer but was unsure how to pose the invite!

 

Narration tells us Darcy smiles (for the second time in the book) but Liz checks her laugh as she can see Darcy is rather disturbed by Bingley’s comment. Bingley’s sister also takes Darcy’s side gently reproving her brother for talking such nonsense.

3939. p. 42 “I see your design, Bingley,” said his friend.-“You dislike an argument, and want to silence this.”

 

Bingley agrees and asks Darcy and Liz to hold off their discussion on other people’s character (namely HIS!) until he is safely out of the room then they may gossip about him as much as they wish! Darcy, at Lizzy’s suggestion, finishes his letter then narration tells us he requested some music from the ladies who obliged. Elizabeth declined to play or sing anything so Miss Bingley and her married sister entertained everyone. It is while they are playing a lively Scotch air, almost suitable for dancing a reel, that Darcy comes over to stand next to Elizabeth where she had been perusing some music books and not for a second missing the fact that Darcy’s eye has been steadily fixed on her this entire time which she has tried very hard not to care about. 

Her opinion of him has not changed at all since page 8-she doesn’t like him!

4p40. p. 43 “Do you not feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?”

Liz just smiles and makes no answer so he repeats the question, narration tells us. Liz finally speaks, she ignored his question out of spite, she has no intention of dancing and flirtingly challenges him to “despise her now as much as he dares!”

4141.  p. 43 “Indeed I do not dare.”

Narration tells us Darcy is now thoroughly “bewitched” by her! Too bad her family connections are so much lower than HIS.

Seeing her competition again scoring points with the gentleman she has set her cap for, narration tells us Caroline urges Liz to go check on her sister and she is again free to tease Darcy about a “supposed marriage engagement” and it is now the next day as Darcy and Caroline are enjoying a walk outside in the gardens and she brings up the subject of this faux marriage again reminding Darcy (again) IF he and the Bennet girl were to wed, his new mother-in-law would drive them crazy as she gossips too much and Liz’s boy-crazy sisters would need to be brought into check not to mention Elizabeth herself is entirely too cheeky with her impertinence to ever make a good match for him.

4242.  p. 44 “Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity?”

Miss Bingley does! If any portraits of Liz’s maternal Aunt and Uncle Philips who live in Meryton, the little village near Longbourn, and work in TRADE (the horror!) are brought to Pemberley, Darcy should be sure to hang them next to the picture of his own Uncle who works as a Judge. As for any portraits of Elizabeth being painted, why, don’t even bother! For what artist could do justice to those “fine eyes?”

4343. p. 44 “It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their colour and shape, and the eye-lashes, so remarkably fine, might be copied.”

Just then who should appear but Elizabeth and Mrs. Hurst, the married Bingley sister, who immediately takes Darcy’s other arm and they continue to walk leaving Elizabeth feeling like the odd wheel out as the path is only wide enough for three and she is forced to walk behind-alone. Seeing the awkwardness of this grouping, Darcy says,

4444.  p. 45 “This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go into the avenue.”

Not at all bothered by this arrangement and seeing the perfect excuse to make a graceful exit, Liz cheerfully excuses herself and fairly runs back to the house counting the days until Jane is recovered and she can be safely at home again!

 

That evening, Jane is feeling well enough to join everyone in the drawing room where, to Liz’s delight, Bingley chooses a seat next to Jane by the roaring fire and doesn’t leave her side, engaging her in quiet conversation. Caroline continues to make advances at Darcy who is engaged in reading. Liz also has a book but can hardly read with such an entertaining scene before her as narration tells us Miss Bingley spent the entire “reading hour” trying to engage Darcy in conversation to which he only gave one word or single phrase answers before turning his attention back to his book. Defeated, Caroline finally tossed her own book aside, ambled over to chat a few minutes with her brother still seated next to Jane and finally, invited Liz to “take a turn about the room with her” to which Liz was agreeable. Darcy has now closed his book and is watching the two young ladies. Narration says they questioned him that action to which he replied they could have but two motives for their present activity and he would only interfere. Caroline demands further insight into that comment!

4545.  p. 47 “I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,” said he, as soon as she allowed him to speak. “You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking;-if the first, I should be completely in your way;-and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.”

The two girls pretend great shock at this admission. Liz suggests they tease and laugh at him, except Mr. Darcy is NOT to be laughed at, she jokes. Miss Caroline is also familiar with his character-he is all of a calm mind and temper. It would be no fun at all she tells her and such a pity for, as Liz replies-she dearly loves a good laugh.

4646. p. 48 “Miss Bingley,” said he, “has given me credit for more than can be. The wisest and the best of men, nay, the wisest and best of their actions, may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke.”

Lizzy agrees, she hopes never to make light of something serious, wise or good. She admits she does laugh at follies and whims, yes, but certainly Darcy never does.

4747. p. 48 “Perhaps that is not possible for any one. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule.”

Liz asks if he means vanity and PRIDE?!

4848. p. 48 “Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride-where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.”

Elizabeth has to hide her smile. Caroline, pouting at being left out, hopes this conversation is over. Lizzy states Darcy has practically admitted he is without any fault and is ready to own it.

4949.  p. 49 “No”-said Darcy, “I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for.-It is I believe too little yielding-certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others as soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful.-My good opinion once lost is lost for ever.”

A failing indeed! Cries Liz who openly admits she cannot laugh at that, Darcy has chosen his fault well.

5050. p. 49 “There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.”

Liz supposes HIS defect is to hate everybody.

5151. p. 49 “And yours,” he replied with a smile, “is willfully to misunderstand them.” 

Utterly fed up by this conversation not focusing on HER, Caroline cries out for some music, the pianoforte is opened and narration tells us Darcy is glad for the distraction, he feels he may have paid Elizabeth a little TOO much attention just now, which he may later regret.

 

Chapter 12 contains absolutely no dialogue and is not a very long chapter anyway but narration lets the reader know that Elizabeth very much desires to go home-ASAP. Jane arrived for her visit on Tuesday and it is now Friday. Caroline is only too happy to see her competition making plans to leave, but does feel real regret that Jane won’t be staying longer. Darcy is also relieved to see the girl who has caught his eye (and possibly his heart!) will be leaving soon. He is beginning to fall in love with her and that would never do! He manages to speak only ten words to Elizabeth on Saturday and on Sunday, after church, the Bennet girls take their leave and arrive home to a rather grumpy mother who tried to delay the return in hopes a good match might be secured. Mr. Bennet is glad to see them back; conversation is so dull without them around as Lydia, Kitty and Mrs. Bennet only care for gossip and speculation which bores him. We must assume poor Mary is too intellectual for anyone!

 

William Collins has arrived seeking a prospective wife for his new abode thx to THE Lady Catherine de Bourgh. All the sisters but Mary laugh behind their backs at him. Elizabeth has also now met Wickham and heard all the “dirt” on Darcy and is glad for another excuse not to like or trust him.

 

Chapter 18, the Netherfield ball, arrives and Elizabeth is disappointed to learn Wickham is not here and that Darcy is to blame for elbowing him out as the two are not comfortable in each other’s company. She endures the torturous two dances with Collins and escapes to hang out with Charlotte and while the two are chatting and catching up, narration tells us Darcy appeared and asked for Liz’s hand in the next dance which, still recovering from the shock of surprise at Darcy’s invite, she found herself accepting.

 

And so they danced…narration tells us Lizzie attempted several times to engage Darcy in some kind of conversation but he only smiled and/or gave short answers to which she tells him it will do for now and they can be silent.

5252. p. 78 “Do you talk by rule then, while you are dancing?”

Liz gives her charming answer that through this mode of talking they can actually say very little!

5353. p. 79 “Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?”

Both! Unless we plan to say something that will amaze the whole room.

5454. p. 79 “This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure,” said he. “How near it may be to mine, I cannot pretend to say.-You think it is a faithful portrait undoubtedly.” 

Narration tells us Darcy then asked if Liz and her sisters often walked to Meryton which gives Liz the perfect opportunity to hint that she has now become acquainted with Wickham and knows all! Darcy turns a bit red in the face as he gives his own opinion of his “ex” friend.

5555. p. 79 “Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may insure his making friends-whether he may be equally capable of retaining them is less certain.” 

Before Liz can think of a good answer to that comment, they are interrupted by Sir William Lucas who only meant to sneak through the dance line to get to the other side of the room but narration tells us upon seeing Darcy’s excellent dance moves stopped to compliment them both, adding that he is also looking forward to a “certain event” that is sure to take place between a certain Miss Bennet and Darcy’s best friend, eh?

Narration then says Darcy was a little shaken up by this as he glances over to where Jane and Bingley are still gazing into each other’s eyes, enjoying the dance, and is silent for a few minutes while he collects his thoughts…

56 56. p. 80 “Sir William’s interruption has made me forget what we were talking of.”

Sounding rather put out, Liz replies they WERE attempting several subjects to converse on but failed miserably at all of them so…they were talking of nothing, really!

5757. p. 80 “What think you of books?” said he, smiling.

Liz immediately shoots that down-not books! They probably don’t even read the same titles.

5858. p. 80 “I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be no want of subject.-We may compare our different opinions.”

Liz repeats she absolutely cannot talk books, not while dancing in a ballroom.

5959. p. 80 “The present always occupies you in such scenes,-does it?” said he, with a look of doubt.

Always! Liz then reminds him of something he once said-that once good favor is lost with him, it is gone forever and so he is very cautious about how such feelings are created in the first place, right?

6060. p. 80 “I am,” said he, with a firm voice.

And he would NEVER allow himself to be blinded by prejudice?

6161. p. 81 “I hope not.”

Liz hopes he would judge properly first.

6262. p. 81 “May I ask to what these questions tend?”

She is trying make out his character.

6363. p. 81 “And what is your success?”

She does not get on at all. He is a puzzle.

6464. p. 81 “I can readily believe,” answered he gravely, “that report may vary greatly with respect to me; and I could wish, Miss Bennet, that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment, as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either.”

But Liz wants to sketch that character NOW for she may not get another opportunity after tonight.

6565. p. 81 “I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours,” he coldly replied.

They are silent for the remainder of the dance.

 

Elizabeth is in agonies the rest of the evening, not by Darcy’s cold end to their awkward conversation, but the embarrassing acts he most likely observed from her family making spectacles of themselves. First, Collins made the impertinent gesture of introducing himself to Darcy. Narration says Darcy was not as offended as he is shown to be in the BBC version and allowed Collins to talk his ear off about his humble lifestyle as a clergyman and, of course, his association with Darcy’s prominent aunt, his noble patroness Lady Catherine de Bourgh! Mrs. Bennet loudly bragged how her practically engaged eldest daughter would soon bring in other rich men to marry the rest. Mary plays and sings two songs at the piano and is not very good and the entire family rather overstays their welcome as Mrs. Bennet made sure their family carriage was the last to be summoned so as to give Jane and Bingley more time together. All of this, Liz is certain, certainly didn’t score any points with Darcy and so it is all probably for the best. She also didn’t learn anything new about Wickham and why he avoided coming tonight as HE was the one person she was hoping to get to know better tonight and he stood her up! Thus ends Chapter 18.

Elizabeth rejects Collins’ marriage proposal and we already know what happens next. Charlotte Lucas makes a play for him and accepts HIS marriage proposal to the shock of Lizzy but she soon gets over it and wishes them both joy. Christmas arrives and once the New Year has been rung in, Jane is invited back to London to stay with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner (Their mother’s brother) who always come with their children to Longbourn for the holidays. Jane writes Lizzy four weeks later to report no word from the Bingleys despite having written several notes to let them know she was in town. At Charlotte’s invite, Lizzy also agrees to come in March to visit the newlyweds along with Charlotte’s father and younger sister AND to meet the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh. During the stopover in London to see Jane, Aunt Gardiner issues the invite to Lizzy to join them on a summer holiday trip to the North Country of England (including Pemberley where Darcy lives!) which Liz is very happy to accept.

The party arrives at the newlywed’s humble abode in Kent and settles in. All are surprised to learn that just in time for Easter; Mr. Darcy is HERE to pay his aunt a visit. He also brought his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. By now Sir William Lucas has returned home and Elizabeth and Maria Lucas remain as guests of Charlotte and Mr. Collins and have dined at Rosings many times. Lizzy has already had her famous conversation with the Great Lady about her sisters all being “out” and that she is twenty years old (and still single!)

Thanks to Collins, who spends every waking minute of his life in his garden so he can wave to his favorite Lady if she happens to pass by in her carriage or awaiting a summons from Rosings, he informs them Darcy and his cousin can’t even wait for the party to come calling and dining at Rosings but have taken the liberty of coming themselves to pay a call, most likely on their very first day of arrival. Charlotte informs Elizabeth this has never happened before and it must certainly be because of HER being here that Darcy would seek her out like this and before Lizzy can think of a reply the two men are announced and they enter. Narration tells us Darcy made a few gentlemanly comments with his usual reserve while Liz, in turn, asks if he heard her sister has been in town all this time? Again, narration tells us Darcy, very formally, regrets he did not have the pleasure of seeing Jane and the subject is dropped. The two gentlemen take their leave and that is the end of Chapter 30.

A week passes and Darcy never returns to pay a second call. They see him at church but it is not until Easter Sunday (no mention if they were served some kind of Sunday lunch but they probably were!) as they are all gathered in the drawing room at Rosings and Fitzwilliam has seated himself next to Elizabeth and they are happily conversing on many subjects while Darcy is engaged in conversation with his aunt-for he is the favorite nephew and Lady Catherine does not hide the fact that whenever he is in the same room with her, she prefers HIS company above anyone else’s. Nevertheless, seeing her other nephew getting a little too intimate with Elizabeth Bennet, she calls over to inquire what they are talking of? Music, Fitzwilliam replies. And so, after coffee is enjoyed by all, Lizzy accepts Fitzwilliam’s request that she go to the pianoforte and play something, as she promised earlier to do for him. Elizabeth is finding herself crushing, just a little, on Darcy’s likeable cousin who is about thirty and still unmarried. Darcy finally concludes conversation with his aunt and wanders over to the piano where Liz is still playing. She grins at him and asks if he is trying to frighten her?

6666.  p. 149 “I shall not say that you are mistaken,” he replied, “because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own.”

Elizabeth laughs at this for all who know her will not hesitate to expose her REAL character.

6767.  p. 149 “I am not afraid of you,” said he, smilingly.

Colonel Fitzwilliam is eager to know exactly what his cousin is like among strangers. Elizabeth is more than happy to share the story of how she and Darcy first met at the skewed number ball where Darcy refused to dance with any number of available young ladies. Darcy defends himself,

6868. p. 150 “I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party.”

Yeah, forget introductions, not in a ballroom, heaven forbid!

6969. p. 150 “Perhaps,” said Darcy, “I should have judged better, had I sought an introduction, but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers.”

Well, what do you think of THAT, Fitzwilliam? Should we ask him to explain himself? Why is he so ill qualified, pray? Fitzwilliam replies, HE can answer that question-Darcy would never give himself the trouble of talking to strangers in the first place.

7070. p. 150 “I certainly have not the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy, “of conversing easily with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done.”

Well, Liz informs him, my fingers do not move upon this instrument as masterfully as other women’s but I take responsibility for that. I just need to practice more.

7171. p. 150 Darcy smiled and said, “You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers.”

Just then Lady Catherine interrupts the fascinating conversation demanding to know what they are talking of. Elizabeth resumes playing, Lady C remarks on how Miss Bennet could use more practice time and that her own daughter, Anne, would have been a progeny, if she had the opportunity. She continues to critique Elizabeth’s talent while the gentlemen continue to request her to keep playing until the carriage is called and that is the end of Chapter 31.

 

Elizabeth is alone in the house writing to Jane. Mr. Collins is presumably outside in his garden or off somewhere, Charlotte and her younger sister Maria went into the village to run errands so when there is a ring at the door and Mr. Darcy, all alone by himself, enters the room come to call, both are very much astonished for narration tells us Darcy had been informed at the door that the other ladies of the house were also present in the sitting room. Lizzie sets her half-finished letter aside as Darcy sits down and several awkward beats of silence pass as Elizabeth racks her brain for something intelligent or witty to say. All she can come up with is to take this opportunity to ask Darcy for more info on why Bingley left Netherfield so quickly and if Bingley’s sisters were well last time he saw them?

7272. p. 152 “Perfectly so-I thank you.”

And will Bingley be returning soon or perhaps never, maybe just quit the place entirely?

7373. p. 152 “I have never heard him say so; but it is probable that he may spend very little of his time there in future. He has many friends, and he is at a time of life when friends and engagements are continually increasing.”

Then he may even sell out?

7474.  p. 152 “I should not be surprised,” said Darcy, “if he were to give it up, as soon as any eligible purchase offers.”

Elizabeth then clams up; let Darcy pick the next topic for discussion!

7575.  p. 152 He took the hint, and soon began with, “This seems a very comfortable house. Lady Catherine, I believe, did a great deal to it when Mr. Collins came to Hunsford.”

Elizabeth agrees and that Lady Catherine was most kind in her offers and actions and Collins was, naturally, VERY grateful *eyeroll*

7676.  p. 152 “Mr. Collins appears very fortunate in his choice of wife.”

Elizabeth explains when it comes to the financial security issues for her friend, yes, the match DID end up being fortunate but she also drops her own subtle opinion that Charlotte married WAY down when it comes to a match of intelligence-no other single woman in the dating pool would have him (and she should know!)

7777.  p. 153 “It must be very agreeable to her to be settled within so easy a distance of her own family and friends.”

Excuse me? You call fifty miles “easy distance?!!” Charlotte is very far from home,

7878.  p. 153 “And what is fifty miles of good road? Little more than half a day’s journey. Yes, I call it a very easy distance.”

Sure, if that’s what you consider an advantageous match-she is hardly near her family.

7979.  p. 153 “It is proof of your own attachment to Hertfordshire. Anything beyond the very neighbourhood of Longbourn, I suppose, would appear far.”

Thinking his small smile as he says this implies he is really speaking of Jane and a possible future connection to Netherfield, Lizzie blushes and replies that a woman, unless she is well off, cannot have the luxury of frequent travel, such as her friend Charlotte. Again, she reminds Darcy it will nevertheless be hard for her friend to visit home very often.

8080.  p. 153 Mr. Darcy drew his chair a little towards her, and said, “You cannot have a right to such very strong local attachment. You cannot have been always at Longbourn.”

At Elizabeth’s surprised look, the gentleman took up a newspaper and pretended to read asking in a rather cold voice,

8181.  p. 153 “Are you pleased with Kent?”

Narration says a short dialogue then followed on the subject of the surrounding area and the two talk amiable and polite until the conversation is ended by the entrance of Charlotte and her sister, back from shopping. Narration says Darcy had little to say after that other than admitting his mistake in being told Elizabeth was NOT alone and that he left shortly after. Charlotte is pleasantly shocked for Darcy NEVER comes here seeking company or making friendly calls whenever he is in the neighborhood to visit his aunt. He MUST be in love with her. Narration goes on to tell us that for many days afterward both Fitzwilliam and Darcy were frequent visitors at the Parsonage. Sometimes one came calling without the other but mostly they would call together and when they did, Darcy had very little to say but would just sit and stare at Elizabeth. Charlotte took special note of this. Darcy certainly does look at her friend a great deal (this is where that line came from in the BBC film at the Netherfield ball) and after they left she would bring it up in different conversations but Lizzy would just laugh it off. Charlotte muses to herself perhaps Fitzwilliam would make a better match for Lizzy, but he is not wealthy while Darcy is their biggest tithe payer to the church and enjoys a very high status in their neighborhood social circle. And thus ends Chapter 32.

 

Narration tells us Elizabeth is very fond of long walks AND that while walking she has frequently run into Darcy and that on the third time this happened he started joining her and they would chat, rather awkwardly, on different subjects-what Lizzy thinks of the area and especially of Rosings almost hinting that whenever she comes to visit her best friend again she will be staying THERE. Lizzy just assumes, like Charlotte, he is thinking of a future match between herself and Fitzwilliam. Then, one day, she actually meets Fitzwilliam and he walks and talks with her but to Lizzy’s dismay, she learns the truth about why Bingley “ghosted” her sister-Darcy influenced the break up! Fitzwilliam has no idea who this lady was; he is only repeating what his cousin told him about his part in it and is passing it along as Lizzy was asking questions about Darcy and his relationships with others (such as Wickham!) which Fitzwilliam was happy to answer for her. He sees her to the Parsonage and Elizabeth goes to her room to think, ponder, cry a little over this unkindness to her beloved sister and gets a headache as a result which gives her the perfect excuse to not join the party going to dine at Rosings this afternoon where Darcy will surely be and she does NOT want to see him, ever again.

 

SO imagine her astonishment when, after the others have left and Lizzy is alone in the sitting room re-reading all of Jane’s letters to discover some new detail that might hint at Darcy’s betrayal to her family when the doorbell rings and the man himself is shown into the room. He walks about for a few beats then gets right to it here in Chapter 34, perhaps one of the most famous scenes in all literature…

8282.  p. 161 “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

Lizzie is all astonished silence. Narration tells us Darcy continued his speech which Lizzy will repeat for us in a minute. Darcy is pretty much implying that her family’s low social connections and lack of real 1% wealth cast a negative light on this passionate proposal of marriage except Darcy is the LEAST passionate lover Lizzie has ever met. She gives him a good scolding and flatly turns him down, namely for giving his offensive opinions most unwillingly. And so the argument goes:

8383.  p. 163 “And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of expecting! I might, perhaps, wish to be informed why, with so little endeavor at civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of small importance.”

Elizabeth repeats the words he just told her That he LIKES her against his will, reason and character. That he also did a bang up job of ruining her most beloved sister’s life by turning Bingley against them. He has some nerve declaring love and matrimony to her after all this. He broke up the attachment between his best friend and her favorite sister. (he smiles in disbelief or “incredulity” as she says this) Does he deny it?

8484.  p. 163 With assumed tranquility, he then replied, “I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Toward him I have been kinder than toward myself.”

Lizzy tells him her sketch of his character is now complete and thank you Wickham for validating everything she was told about him! Some friend YOU are, Mr. Darcy!

8585.  p. 164 “You take an eager interest in that gentleman’s concerns,” said Darcy in a less tranquil tone, and with a heightened colour.

Elizabeth reminds him of Wickham’s misfortune.

8686.  p. 164 “His misfortunes!” repeated Darcy contemptuously; “yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed.”

Well YOU were the one who cast him into poverty! Now he is all alone with no friends and no money nor place to call home. I think you took pleasure in ruining him!

8787.  p. 164 “And this,” cried Darcy, as he walked with quick steps across the room, “is your opinion of me! I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed! But perhaps,” added he, stopping in his walk, and turning towards her, “these offences might have been overlooked, had not your pride been hurt by my honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design. These bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination; by reason, by reflection, by everything. But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and just. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections? To congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?”

We cannot blame Elizabeth’s anger towards this conceited snob as he pretty much declared his disgust at marrying so WAY DOWN from his own social status. The long speech he just gave was certainly NOT very gentlemen-like! From the first day they met, she always knew he was the LAST man in the world she could EVER marry!

8888.  p. 165 “You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness.”

And with these words, Mr. Darcy leaves the room.

In shock, Lizzy sits down and cries for half an hour. He was IN LOVE with her, he wanted to MARRY her! Oh why did he have to ruin it with all those objections? It would seem this relationship could never have worked out anyway...

End of Chapter 34

We know what happens next. To prove nothing has changed, Lizzy takes her daily solitary walk after breakfast deliberately avoiding her usual routes just in case Darcy is around. Narration tells us Liz has been here exactly five weeks visiting her best, newly married, friend. But it is no use, here comes Darcy. He found her! He is also holding a letter which he hands her.

8989.  p. 167 “I have been walking in the grove sometime in the hope of meeting you. Will you do me the honour of reading that letter?"-And then, with a slight bow, turned again into the plantation, and was soon out of sight.

We already know what the letter says and it is signed Fitzwilliam Darcy

Many pages are spent in which Elizabeth reflects on this shocking, astonishing turn of events regarding this discovery of what really happened between Wickham and Darcy: the falling out between two lifelong friends, the betrayal and heartbreak of a treasured little sister and the true reveal of Wickham’s character. Darcy's one real regret  (as he narrates in the BBC version) is having concealed the knowledge of Jane's being in town last year from Bingley. Other than that, Lizzy is very much ashamed and sorry now for the unkind words she spoke to Darcy. Two hours she spent walking, sitting, reflecting and re-reading the long letter. When she returns to the house, she is informed both Darcy and Fitzwilliam, making separate calls, both came to say their goodbyes as their visit to their Aunt Catherine concludes tomorrow. Darcy only stayed a few minutes to make his goodbyes but Cousin Fitz had been awaiting her return this entire time and she just missed him. No matter, Lizzie is no longer crushing on him.

Lady Catherine, completely oblivious to the dramatic proposal of marriage which, and Lizzy smiles thinking this, if she knew would certainly not be so cordial with their visits and dining at Rosings so often during the very last week of their stay. The formidable Lady Catherine even urges Elizabeth to write home requesting an extension of her stay but Elizabeth is more than ready to get the heck out of Dodge. By the way, Maria does repack her trunks! Thus ends Chapter 37.

We do not see Darcy again for several pages and chapters until Lizzy is on her summer trip with her favorite aunt and uncle while Jane stays home to be favorite babysitter to their four cousins, children all under the age of eight. Lydia was also (reluctantly on Liz and her father’s part) granted permission to leave on her own trip to Brighton to be a companion to the colonel’s wife and have her fill of flirting with as many men in red uniform as she can while Kitty is devastated at being left behind, especially as she is the older sister by two years. But, never mind that, Lizzy is determined to enjoy herself. Learning the owner of the Hearst Castle-like grand house is not at home and that Pemberley really IS worth touring, the party is shown around by the housekeeper who never ceases to praise her master, Mr. Darcy, to the skies. He is the kindest, most generous man she has ever worked for, and she’s known him since he was four years old! He gives generously to the poor in the area, is hardly a despot, ask anyone in both the house, home farm and the tenants in the area and they will all vouch for his character. The younger Miss Darcy is cherished by her older brother who would lasso the moon for her. Pemberley is a virtual paradise! Lizzy digests all this information, thinking to herself, of all THIS, she might have been mistress! Elizabeth then continues to listen in shocked silence wondering which Mr. Darcy the housekeeper is talking about. She and her aunt, in an aside, agree their acquaintance with the proud and arrogant Mr. Darcy as described by Wickham, what Lizzy observed on several occasions back in Meryton and the harsh gossip her aunt heard about him by the residents of  that village, well,-they just might have been wrong.

 

The party goes outside to wander the grounds, just as fine as the house. Liz discovers she walked farther while her aunt and uncle stopped to chat with the gardener. Turning back around, there is a man walking toward her from the stables-it is DARCY!!!

 

Four pages of description pass as the reader is told that after several minutes of gentle conversation on an equally astonished (and very dry) Mr. Darcy’s part (no sexy, soaking wet, white shirt in sight to tempt Lizzy!) in which he very politely inquires after her family, how long she had been here in the area, and other issues while Elizabeth is desperately wishing for a hole to open up so she can escape this highly embarrassing scene.

 

Darcy departs for the house while her shocked aunt and uncle approach, again all in narration there is NO dialogue, asking if that was THE actual owner of the house they just saw her engaged in conversation with? What a fine figure of a man! Lizzy can only follow them in tortured silence as they continue their walk around the grounds, (Ten miles round in total circumference, the place probably has its own zip code!) alongside the river and back through the woods where, to the continued irony and great dismay of Elizabeth, Darcy reappears.

 

This time Lizzy is better prepared to make the required polite, but completely honest responses. Pemberley is all delightful and charming she tells him. (She is quite taken by it!) He then asks if she might do him the honor of being introduced to her friends? Lizzy smiles to herself, imagining he will run away screaming once he learns these are but common-folk citizens who are most decidedly NOT the kind of people of fashion with whom he frequently rubs shoulders.

 

To her surprise, Darcy takes her uncle aside to talk about fishing, her uncle’s favorite hobby, and she can hear him extending the invite to come and fish in his lake and river whenever he likes during his stay here in the neighborhood. The two women, walking ahead of the men, overhearing the entire conversation, exchange looks. Reaching the river where Darcy was showing her uncle the best spots for fishing, Mrs. Gardiner takes her husband’s arm leaving Darcy to escort Lizzy back up to the house to the waiting carriage.

Being the faster walkers they quickly outpace the older couple by at least a quarter of a mile allowing them to talk freely. Lizzy tells him they did not mean to impose for they had been informed nobody was to be home today. Darcy acknowledges the information they were given was correct, however, he had business with his steward which required him to arrive a day early with the rest of the expected party to come later. At last, Austen gives Darcy an actual line of dialogue:

9090.  p. 216 “They will join me early to-morrow,” he continued, “and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you-Mr. Bingley and his sisters.”

Liz can only nod, remembering how the LAST conversation involving Bingley turned out!

91  91. p. 216 “There is also one other person in the party,” he continued after a pause, “who more particularly wishes to be known to you,-will you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay at Lambton?”

Narration does not tells us Liz’s answer only that she is both greatly surprised and honored by the invite, suspecting it was all motivated by his feelings for her. Could he still be in love with her? But she was so mean to him last time they spoke and she regrets it now more than ever. They reach the house and the carriage but her aunt and uncle are slower than molasses in January. Conversation drags as Lizzy can find little in common to converse on as she and Darcy move in such different socio-economic circles. At last, her aunt and uncle arrive, the party graciously refuses Darcy’s invite to come inside and take some refreshment as they really must be going. Darcy hands both ladies into the carriage and as they drive away Lizzy notices Darcy turning to walk slowly back into the house. All discuss the generous noblesse oblige shown to them by Darcy who appears to undergo a complete 180 change in attitude and temperament whenever he is on his own home turf. Lizzy confesses she never saw this pleasant side of his character until now. It would appear everything they were told by the housekeeper was, in fact, true. Liz finds she is looking forward to the promised introduction to his sister.

Darcy brings his sister and Mr. Bingley to the Inn, where Elizabeth and her relations are staying, the very next day. There is very little dialogue, none on Darcy’s part, but Elizabeth is again pleasantly surprised to learn the proud sister Wickham described to be completely false. Georgiana Darcy is a tall, handsome girl of sixteen. Not proud or snobby at all, just very shy, hardly saying two words to Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle. Bingley practically ignores the girl, so any hint of a match between them as indicated in Miss Bingley’s letter to Jane back in Chapter 21 was not true after all. 

Bingley is very happy to see her again and Elizabeth’s former annoyance at him for jilting her sister is gone. She is also pleased when Bingley can quote the exact date he last had the pleasure of seeing her-AND her sisters too, of course-at the ball he hosted on the 26^th of November! Eight months ago. Darcy extends the invite to come dine at Pemberley at their earliest convenience. Elizabeth turns her head to avoid her aunt’s knowing look for THEY would certainly never be singled out for such an honor. Her uncle accepts on behalf of them all and narration tells us the evening after next was agreed upon. Bingley can’t wait to see her again for he wants to know if ALL her sisters are still at Longbourn? This pleases Lizzie for it means Bingley might still be interested in Jane and hopes of a future match are mentally rekindled on Liz’s part. The Darcys and Bingley only stay half an hour before departing leaving Liz and her relations to again express to each other their great pleasure in being so wrong about Darcy’s unpleasant character for even her aunt’s old friends who live in the village of Lambton have nothing but praise for the family. Yes, they are a bit proud as they rarely solicit and support the local businesses in person but Darcy, as the housekeeper said, gives generously to the poor in the area and nobody can find any fault with him. The only gossip about Wickham is that after he left he owed many debts to many creditors in the area which didn’t impress anyone much. Other than that, nobody really knew much about him except his being a sort of “ward” to the late Mr. Darcy. Liz lies awake for two whole hours that night, pondering all this new information on the man who, for some reason, appears to be infatuated…with HER!

Thus ends Chapter 44.

The party at Pemberley is rather awkward as it all female while all the men are outside fishing leaving the ladies to provide their own entertainment in a very elegant, posh, saloon (this is the way it is spelled on p 228 but the meaning of the word is now completely different, especially for Americans.) Miss Bingley is practically glaring at Elizabeth while her aunt converses easily with Georgiana’s new governess, an agreeable woman who resides in London where Darcy sends his sister to live for most of the year. Again, the girl hardly says anything but observes the adults and their conversations only offering her own comments whenever she feels it is safe to do so. Luncheon is brought in: grapes, nectarines, peaches, cold meats and cake for dessert.

When Darcy enters, Elizabeth notices his sister becomes much more relaxed and, at her brother’s gentle prompting, begins to converse more with her, while Caroline Bingley continues to glower. She makes a snide comment about Lizzy’s younger sisters pining away as she heard all the officers from Lizzy’s small, hick town, village all left for Brighton. They must be devastated, eh? Liz brushes it off while noticing Darcy’s look of concern at the mention of officers, such as Wickham. Only herself and Darcy and Georgiana know of what happened but that’s all. Forgive Caroline Bingley, Darcy, Liz thinks to herself, for she knows not what she does. Georgiana immediately withdraws from any further conversation until the Gardiners and Elizabeth take their leave.

Once again, Caroline Bingley is now waging a full out war against Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Soon as Darcy has returned from seeing his guests safely away in their carriage, she rips Elizabeth up one side and down the other in a harsh critique on her physical appearance. Darcy merely reminds her there’s nothing wrong in getting a little extra sun during the height of summer. She then reminds Darcy HE once thought Elizabeth not much to look at either!

92  92. p.229 “Yes,” replied Darcy, who could contain himself no longer, “but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.”

He leaves the room and that shuts up Caroline Bingley who, narration preaches, hurt nobody but herself. This is the last time she abuses Lizzy behind her back and she pretty much disappears entirely from the story after this scene.

Elizabeth receives her letters, stays behind to read them while her Aunt and Uncle go for a walk. We know what dreadful news they contain. In a state, Elizabeth hurries to the door, intending to go fetch her aunt and uncle immediately as they must depart at once and head straight back to Longbourn! All at once the door is opened by a servant and Mr. Darcy himself enters the room, takes one look at Elizabeth who is apologizing for her state of distress and cries,

9393.  p. 233 “Good God! What is the matter?” cried he, with more feeling than politeness; then recollecting himself, “I will not detain you a minute, but let me, or let the servant, go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are not well enough; you cannot go yourself.”

Though her words are hardly intelligible, at Darcy’s urging, Liz garbles some hasty instructions to the male servant to go after the Gardiners. It is done and Darcy and Liz, who collapses into a chair, are alone at last.

In a very gentle, sympathetic tone, Darcy addresses her,

9494.  p. 233 “Let me call your maid. Is there nothing you could take to give you present relief?-A glass of wine; shall I get you one?-You are very ill.”

Liz thanks him but turns down all his suggestions and as she starts to relate the dreadful news she just received, she bursts into tears. Darcy simply sits with her (he does NOT take her hand as he does in the BBC version but it's a nice gesture!) and observes in compassionate silence until her emotions are under control and she can relate all.

95  95. p. 234 “I am grieved, indeed,” cried Darcy; “grieved-shocked. But is it certain, absolutely certain?”

Oh, yes!

9   96.  p. 234 "And what has been done, what has been attempted, to recover her?”

The pair was traced as far as London but Elizabeth despairs anything more can be done. Her father has already left to look for them. She knows her uncle, as soon as they reach home, will join Mr. Bennet in the search for them but it is doubtful they can be found; London is a big city. Darcy just shakes his head as Liz goes on, regretting now (wretched woman that she is!) that she did not do more to publicize Wickham’s shady character to everyone especially her own immediate family. Now it is too late. Darcy is, by now, pacing the room, deep in thought with knitted brows and gloomy countenance which Liz mentally interprets as wishing he’d never met her or her crazy family. This thought brings on a fresh round and she buries her face in her handkerchief once again. Several minutes pass until Darcy startles her out of her misery. Again, he is all compassion and sympathy but also very solemn,

9797.  p. 235 “I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence, nor have I anything to plead in excuse of my stay, but real, though unavailing, concern. Would to heaven that anything could be either said or done on my part that might offer consolation to such distress.-But I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent my sister’s having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley to-day." 

Liz heartily agrees. Yes, please convey our regrets to your sister and conceal the unhappy truth as long as possible. Narration then tells us Darcy assures her of secrecy, again expresses his sorrow at this unfortunate affair, gives his compliments to her entire family, and quits the room.

 

Narration spends many paragraphs describing Lizzy’s turbulent thoughts as she ponders Wickham’s character and how it all led to this. A very concerned Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner enter and rush to pack and be off after learning the startling news. Liz tells them Darcy, who just happened to be present after she read the letter, knows all, and that the Pemberley dinner plans for tonight have been understandably cancelled. Notes are sent to all their acquaintances in the village and surrounding area informing them of the change in plans with this vacation/holiday cut short and that is pretty much the end of Chapter 46.

 

Again, we do not see Mr. Darcy for many pages and chapters. Lizzy and her aunt and uncle discuss the situation while traveling in the carriage, making it to Longbourn in record time. Jane looks exhausted, Mrs. Bennet keeps to her room giving as much trouble as she can and with no updates on Lydia and Wickham, Lizzy takes Jane aside (After Mary gives her sisterly consolation and loss of virtue in a woman speech) to hear all. Jane shares the silly note Lydia left for Mrs. Harriet Forster. In the BBC version Collins actually comes to visit but in the book he only sends a condescending letter of pity-better Lydia had DIED than elope! Aunt Gardiner takes her leave with her children to return to London in hopes her husband will have discovered the wicked pair by the time she gets home. Mr. Bennet returns almost immediately upon her departure and soon another letter arrives containing very important news. Just like in the BBC version the two daughters read it aloud outside in a small wood near the house in front of their father who does NOT keep urging them to read, there is only ONE break to comment on the lack of matrimony but then the three walk back to the house continuing to discuss the most recent update on the family disgrace. Wickham and Lydia are not married but soon will be and for a very small dowry in spite of Wickham’s humongous debts being paid off presumably by their uncle. Where he got the money is a mystery. They reach the house and go upstairs to inform Mrs. Bennet who doesn’t care about the details-one daughter is to be married that’s all that matters! She makes an instantaneous recovery and is off to visit her sister and all her friends in the village to spread the happy news.

 

The newlyweds come to visit Longbourn, Mr. Bennet is not very happy about it but he is soon won over by Wickham’s charm while Lydia flaunts her newly married status in her sisters’ faces while her superficial mother fully supports her. Too bad the rest of the Bennet girls did not come with her to Brighton-the single woman’s paradise! Here follows one of my favorite lines from the book on p. 269 as Lizzy’s dry wit again establishes itself in response to Lydia’s offer: “Thank you…but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands.” 

 

Later, Lydia lets slip that Mr. Darcy was present at her wedding and Lizzy does a double take but since she dare not let on what SHE knows of both Darcy and Wickham’s characters she dashes off a quick note to her Aunt Gardiner requesting further information and receives a VERY LONG nearly four page letter in return in which Darcy was the hero of the story. He stepped in, discovered their whereabouts, urged them to marry, and saved the entire family from disgrace with both his influence and his great wealth, insisting he get no credit for any of it. Elizabeth now knows she was very wrong about his character and realizes she has always been in love with him all this time! After all, he MUST have done it for HER! There could be no other explanation.

 

She is then interrupted by Wickham. He and Liz have their conversation in which he lies through his teeth about everything he once told her about his career ambitions revealing himself to be a first-rate moocher and young man stuck in neutral with this shotgun wedding his only motivation to finally man up and provide for a wife and future family as young men were expected to do back then. Doubtless he would have made a very poor representative of the church; the army is all that’s left for him. Elizabeth is rather relieved to see them go.

 

At last, Austen brings Darcy back into the narrative as the chimneys at Netherfield are smoking while gossip in the area is that the owner is coming with a large party of friends for the fall shooting and hunting season to entertain. The Bennet household is very excited by this news. Soon enough, both Charles Bingley AND Mr. Darcy arrive to call at Longbourn but Darcy is not given any dialogue. He is like a brooding (Edward Cullen) vampire, content to just sit and stare at Elizabeth. He did ask after her aunt and uncle while she inquired after his sister and that is all narration tells us. Meanwhile Bingley, her mother, and other sisters are happily chatting and exchanging news with their guests. Lizzy keeps her head down to avoid meeting the eyes of the man who continues to puzzle her with his conflicting hot/cold attentions to her. At last, the two men take their leave.

 

As the two gentleman were invited to the dinner party to be hosted by the Bennets later that week, they return and Lizzy is anxious to speak with Darcy, to let him know SHE knows what he did for her family as her mother is very cold towards him at the dinner table where Lizzy was seated far away from the man she might be in love with. Later, as the ladies are gathered in the drawing room awaiting the men and keeping the coffee hot, she is glad when Darcy enters and they FINALLY have an actual conversation as he comes over to have his coffee mug refilled and she jumps at this chance to initiate a conversation by asking after his sister again-is she still at Pemberley? 

9898.  p. 290 “Yes, she will remain there till Christmas.”

Is she alone there?

9999.  p. 290 “Mrs. Annesley is with her. The others have been gone on to Scarborough, these three weeks.”

Narration says Darcy lingered for several awkward minutes saying nothing before he finally wandered off. Tea and coffee paraphernalia are removed in the Longbourn drawing room and Elizabeth then hopes she might land a place at the same card table as Darcy so they might converse more but it does not work out. For Mrs. Bennet the evening was a great success but for Lizzy she is beginning to despair she might never get the chance to just say thank you to the man who practically saved her and her family’s life.

Bingley comes to call again by himself and it is a very enjoyable visit, he regrets not staying for dinner tonight but happily accepts an open invite to come tomorrow at his earliest convenience which, unfortunately ends up NOT being the most convenient time for the Bennets as they have hardly gotten themselves up and dressed when he arrives to call. Lady’s maid, Sarah, is ordered to leave off doing Lizzy and begin on Jane immediately! That evening Bingley is still here and it looks very promising yet Mrs. Bennet’s schemes to try and get her other daughters out of the sitting room so Jane and Bingley can be alone (and he can propose) is driving Lizzy crazy. Next day he comes to shoot with Mr. Bennet and stays to dinner. This time, Lizzy is glad she has a letter she needs to write and can thus avoid all the silly matchmaking her mother is pushing for. Turns out it wasn’t necessary as Lizzy enters the drawing room to find Jane and Bingley alone, talking earnestly together with look of such rapture on their faces it can only mean one thing. Bingley exits and Jane embraces her favorite sister-she is engaged! Bingley asked for her hand in marriage and she is the happiest creature on God’s earth! The only reason given for Bingley’s renewed interest in Jane was that he was indeed ignorant of her being in town last winter and had been persuaded (by his sister they both presume) that Jane did not return his affection-which obviously turned out to be false!

Lady Catherine de Bourgh pulls up in her fine carriage one morning to have a little private chat with Miss Elizabeth Bennet who is rumored to be engaged to none other than her nephew, "Mr. Darcy," for that is what both she and Lizzy refer to him as throughout this entire conversation. Such talk both offends and displeases her VERY MUCH. Elizabeth is just as surprised to hear such a wild report except it does not bother her as much as her Ladyship. They sit in the small wilderness park near the house as Lady Catherine continues to insist her favorite nephew will marry no one but her daughter while Lizzy declares Darcy should be free to choose any woman in the dating pool he wishes to be his future wife, and all the better for HER! Lady Catherine declares if Miss Bennet were to marry her nephew she would be most decidedly cut off socially from this side of the family. She would be as if dead to them (the horror!) then she throws the shame of Lydia and Wickham’s disgrace in her face and for Lizzy that is the last straw. Lady C has insulted her in every possible method and Lizzy will now take her leave. Good day. She stands up from the bench they were sharing and is followed by the old woman who continues to argue with her about the possible future marriage and the laughingstock it would make of her nephew to all his friends and whatever family he has left. Lizzy replies it is HER life and if Darcy were to make such an offer of marriage to her she would be open to it as they are not so far apart socially as Lady C is insisting-he is a gentleman and she is a gentleman’s daughter making them both equals. Seeing this obstinate, ambitious, headstrong girl cannot be persuaded, Lady C reaches her carriage, gets in and takes her leave, leaving no compliments. She is (say it with me!) most seriously displeased!

Back inside the house, Lizzy is glad the rest of the Bennets assume the reason Lady Catherine just happened to stop by was to merely pass on greetings from the Collinses to Lizzy but next morning her father calls her into the library which serves as his office. He has just received a most astonishing letter from Mr. Collins congratulating him not just on Jane’s happiness but also on Lizzy’s forthcoming engagement to one Mr. Darcy! Collins also added, her Ladyship, his noble patroness whose opinion is valued above all others, does NOT look on the match with a friendly eye. Mr. Bennet finds the whole thing hilarious for what would such an important and prominent man like Darcy see in his daughter who comes from such a small, insignificant, family. It is but an idle report. Lizzy smiles awkwardly and when her father correctly guesses THIS as the reason for her Ladyship’s calling on them the other day Lizzy wants to die of embarrassment. It couldn’t be true! Is Darcy really going around telling everybody that he intends to marry HER? Thus ends Chapter 57.

Only a few days later, however, Bingley and Darcy come to call and a walk into the village is immediately proposed by Bingley. He and Jane take their time lagging behind while Lizzy and Darcy are left on their own after Kitty, who was always too terrified of Darcy to ever speak to him, takes her leave of them to go call on Lucas Lodge. At last Elizabeth can pour out her heart to Darcy. She is grateful beyond words for the kindness he bestowed to her poor sister and if her family knew of his actions, which they don’t, she would thank him on behalf of them as well.

10     100. p. 312 “I am sorry, exceedingly sorry,” replied Darcy, in a tone of surprise and emotion, “that you have ever been informed of what may, in a mistaken light, have given you uneasiness. I did not think Mrs. Gardiner was so little to be trusted.”

Oh, no! Do not blame my aunt. It was Lydia who spilled the beans and now I must thank you again and again for what you did for my family. It must have been mortifying.

10101. p. 312 “If you will thank me,” he replied, “let it be yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you, might add force to the other inducements which led me on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe, I thought only of you.” Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her companion added, “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”

Narration tells us Elizabeth, in all awkwardness, forced herself to speak aloud. That she had undergone a significant change and now looked on her benefactor, Darcy, with gratitude and pleasure. Of course, what else could a man “violently in love” be expected to do? Darcy proceeds to express himself with much happiness. Since Lizzy was unable to see the rapture on his face, she instead listened. As they continued to walk along he told her of his aunt’s visit…

10102. p. 313 “It taught me to hope,” said he, “as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before. I knew enough of your disposition to be certain, that, had you been absolutely, irrevocably decided against me, you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine, frankly and openly.”

Elizabeth blushes and laughs-for he is spot on!

10103. p. 313 “What did you say of me that I did not deserve? For, though your accusations were ill-founded, formed on mistaken premises, my behavior to you at the time had merited the severest reproof. It was unpardonable. I cannot think of it without abhorrence.”

Lizzy basically replies, let’s not argue about that, we are BOTH to blame and, hopefully, we have both improved! 

10104. p. 314 “I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself. The recollection of what I then said, of my conduct, my manners, my expressions during the whole of it, is now, and has been many months, inexpressibly painful to me. Your reproof, so well applied, I shall never forget: ‘had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner.’ Those were your words. You know not, you can scarcely conceive, how they have tortured me;-though it was some time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice.”

Lizzy: “I didn’t realize-I didn’t mean it!”

10105.  p. 314 “I can easily believe it. You thought me then devoid of every proper feeling. I am sure you did. The turn of your countenance I shall never forget, as you said that I could not have addressed you in any possible way, that would induce you to accept me.”

“Oh stop, STOP! I am so ashamed of what I said back then!”

10106. p. 314 Darcy mentioned his letter. “Did it,” said he, “did it soon make you think better of me? Did you, on reading it, give any credit to its contents?”

Narration tells us: She explained what its effects on her had been, and how gradually all her former prejudices had been removed.

10107. p. 314 “I knew,” said he, “that what I wrote must give you pain, but it was necessary. I hope you have destroyed the letter. There was one part especially, the opening of it, which I should dread your having the power of reading again. I can remember some expressions which might justly make you hate me.”

I will burn the letter but I hope you are wrong about its implications.

10108. p. 314 “When I wrote that letter,” replied Darcy, “I believed myself perfectly calm and cool, but I am since convinced that it was written in a dreadful bitterness of spirit.”

The beginning, perhaps, but the rest of it was not. Do not think any more on that letter. The writer and recipient are no longer the same people. Take my example, that reflecting upon it from this time forth, only brings pleasure. 

Here is THE LONGEST DARCY SPEECH IN THE ENTIRE BOOK:

 

10109. p. 315 “I cannot give you credit for any philosophy of the kind. Your retrospections must be so totally void of reproach, that the contentment arising from them, is not of philosophy, but what is much better, of ignorance. But with me, it is not so. Painful recollections will intrude, which cannot, which ought not to be repelled. I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only son, (for many years an only child) I was spoiled by my parents, who though good themselves (my father particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of the world, to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! (FIRST TIME in the entire book he’s ever called her by name, to her face!) What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.”

 “Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?”

11110. p. 315 “Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I believed you to be wishing, expecting my addresses.”

I did not mean to deceive you. How you must have hated me.

11111. p. 316 “Hate you! I was angry perhaps at first, but my anger soon began to take a proper direction.”

I’m almost afraid to ask what you thought when we ran into each other so unexpectedly that day at Pemberley. Did you blame me for coming?

11112. p. 316 “No, indeed; I felt nothing but surprise.”

Me too! I hardly expected such courteous and polite behavior as you showed us.

11113. p. 316 “My object then,” replied Darcy, “was to show you by every civility in my power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill opinion, by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to. How soon any other wishes introduced themselves I can hardly tell, but I believe in about half an hour after I had seen you.”

Narration then tells us  Darcy passed on to Lizzy the reason for his solemn and serious pacing in the room at the Inn that fateful day, while she was relaying all to him. That he had, in fact, been forming his own decision to go after her sister immediately upon taking leave of her, which he did. Lizzy thanks him again and both silently agree enough has been said on this depressing subject and they continue to walk for several beats in companionable silence. Upon checking their watches they discover the time is growing late and they should probably be getting back to the house. Surely Bingley and Jane should be back from their own walk by now and they spend several minutes discussing this happy engagement announcement which, narration tells us, Darcy is now delighted for his friend. Elizabeth asks him if he was surprised learning the news?

11114. p. 316 “Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen.”

So, even though Bingley didn’t really NEED your blessing on the union, he wanted to have it all the same…and you gave it to him! Narration says Darcy exclaimed at her putting it in such a way, but, yes, it was pretty much as she just described it. 

11115. p. 317 “On the evening before my going to London,” said he, “I made a confession to him, which I believe I ought to have made long ago. I told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs, absurd and impertinent. His surprise was great. He had never had the slightest suspicion. I told him, moreover, that I believed myself mistaken in supposing, as I had done, that your sister was indifferent to him; and as I could easily perceive that his attachment to her was unabated, I felt no doubt of their happiness together.”

Lizzy smiles hearing this and asks him if his knowledge came from his own observation of them together or that she basically told him Jane was in love with his friend last time they spoke on the subject? 

11116. p. 317 “From the former. I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which I had lately made here; and I was convinced of her affection.”

And after you told him this, he was then convinced to declare his love to her?

11117. p. 317 “It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine, made everything easy. I was obliged to confess one thing, which for a time, and not unjustly, offended him. I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter, that I had known it, and purposely kept it from him. He was angry. But his anger, I am persuaded, lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your sister’s sentiments. He has heartily forgiven me now.”

Reminding herself that the always serious and solemn Mr. Darcy doesn’t like to be laughed at, she checks her humor and keeps quiet about what a good friend Bingley has now proven himself. Darcy then shares with Lizzy his own greater pleasure in having secured HER heart and their own forthcoming engagement (which will be announced soon) and that is the topic of conversation until they reach the house.

And that is the end of Chapter 58. 

Lizzy is a bit put out-by both her own feelings toward Darcy and apprehensive about how her family will take the news when she and Darcy declare their love to the world. She confesses all to Jane that very night when they are alone. Jane is rightly shocked at such an announcement but Lizzy declares it all true. He still loves her, they are engaged and will be the happiest couple on earth. Lizzy admits her own surprise that her falling in love with Darcy came so gradually but she believes it probably all started after seeing Pemberley! And since Jane had no idea of Darcy’s first proposal to her or his noble part in going after Lydia and Wickham, they stayed up much of that night talking.

Next day Bingley and Darcy come to call again and Lizzy has to hide her laughter at her mother’s suggestion that she take that disagreeable man for a nice long walk so as not to jinx the happy wedding plans of her oldest daughter and soon-to-be-son-in-law. It is done and that night, as Darcy and Lizzy agreed during their walk, Darcy follows her father into the library to officially ask for Mr. Bennet’s favorite daughter’s hand in marriage. Realizing this means she will be leaving the nest and her beloved father, Elizabeth fights back her feelings of alarm and dismay but Darcy exits the room, smiling (His life’s gonna be fine cuz Eliza’s in it!) approaches the table where she is sitting with her other sister and sotto voce

11118. p. 321 “ Go to your father, he wants you in the library.”

Mr. Bennet is rather alarmed at Darcy’s request- Is Lizzy absolutely SURE? But after a long heart to heart with her father in which she explains her change of feelings towards the man everyone had judged to be proud and unpleasant, Mr. Bennet starts to turn. Lizzy further tells all about what he did for Lydia and that decides him. He teases his daughter a bit about that earlier letter from Collins he shared with her, congratulating him on a forthcoming marriage. It all makes sense now, eh? They have his blessing and if any other young men are out there for Mary or Kitty to send them in, he’s ready to agree to anything after today’s astonishing turn of events!

Elizabeth’s superficial mother is hilariously eating humble pie with a complete turn around in her attitude toward Mr. Darcy-for money always speaks louder than words! She is delighted at the news for her dearest love, Lizzy, will have ten thousand a year and live like a princess!

As the courtship progresses, Lizzy’s father informs her he is warming to Darcy very much with every man-to-man conversation they have and that Darcy might soon take Wickham’s place as his favorite son-in-law! Lizzy takes the opportunity, next time they are alone, to ask her fiancé when he first started loving her?

11119. p. 324 “I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”

Well, we already know what you thought of my beauty but as for my manners and my impertinence toward you, perhaps THAT was what attracted you to me, eh?

12120. p. 325 “For the liveliness of your mind, I did.”

Oh, go on! You were bored by women who only chased after you for your money and high social status. Since I was nothing like that, I stood out to you. Other than that, there was nothing really interesting that set me apart from the rest of the dating pool. But nobody thinks of these things when they are unconditionally and irrevocably in LOVE!

12121. p. 325 “Was there no good in your affectionate behavior to Jane while she was ill at Netherfield?”

Oh, very well, make that one of my virtues that first attracted you to me but I what I am really interested to know is why when you came to call and even dine here at my parent’s house you never talked to me as we are finally doing now, why, you would look at me as if you hated me! 

12122. p. 325 “Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement.”

I was embarrassed!

12123. p. 325 “And so was I.”

Well, you could have talked to me, I don’t bite…

12124.  p. 326 “A man who had felt less might.”

I wonder how long you would have kept quiet and never taken initiative if I hadn’t stepped forward and thanked you for what you did for Lydia. I was probably too forward and ought to be ashamed!

12125. p. 326 “You need not distress yourself. The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady Catherine’s unjustifiable endeavours to separate us, were the means of removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to your eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humour to wait for any opening of yours. My aunt’s intelligence had given me hope, and I was determined at once to know everything.”

So why DID you come to Longbourne with Bingley if you were not absolutely certain? You might have saved yourself the embarrassment, calling on a single lady who had already rejected you.

12126. p. 326 “My real purpose was to see you and to judge, if I could, whether I might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to myself, was to see whether your sister were still partial to Bingley, and if she were, to make the confession to him which I have since made.”

Are you ever going to break the news to Lady Catherine?

12127. p. 326 “I am more likely to want time than courage, Elizabeth. But it ought to be done, and if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be done directly.”

 

And that, gentle reader, is a faithful account of every line of dialogue by Mr. Darcy in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice. 

But here is the rest of the story:

Lizzy has a letter to write herself otherwise she would sit beside him, (as she saw another lady do once!) and talk his ear off while he tries to write. Narration then gives us a portion of Lizzy’s letter to her favorite aunt who must be sent a wedding invitation, and how surprised she will be! Lizzy can’t wait to have them as guests at Pemberley for Christmas.

Miss Bingley took the news like a good sport, writing to Jane to wish her joy while Miss Darcy can’t wait to have Lizzy as her new sister. The two will get on famously. Lady Catherine, on the other hand, was so upset by Darcy’s letter-her worst fears, indeed, come to pass-Charlotte Lucas Collins and her husband came personally to her parent’s home for an extended visit to find some relief from “the storm.” Mrs. Phillips, like her sister Mrs. Bennet, is gossiping happily about the entire affair along with her new rich connections to everyone in Meryton. Elizabeth does her best to play mediator between her distinguished fiancé and the rest of her crazy family and friends. She can’t wait for this awkward courtship to be over and become official mistress of Pemberley.

Thus ends Chapter 60.

The very last chapter in the book, Chapter 61, has no dialogue. We might as well call this chapter the “Where are they now” epilogues: Two daughters married! Where and when it took place and if it was a double wedding like in the BBC version we are never told. Jane and her new husband lived at Netherfield about a year before purchasing some property not thirty miles from Pemberley so the two sisters could visit each other whenever they wanted. Kitty moves out and alternates living with one or the other sister and her character and deportment are looking very promising. Mary will be the stereotypical old maid who will always live at home and take over the job of caring for her aging parents. Lydia writes to Lizzy to congratulate her on her good fortune and perhaps they might send some of it their way? Smiling to herself, Lizzy does send some money while Darcy pulls a few strings to get Wickham a promotion so he might increase his salary. They are both nice like that. And when Lydia and Wickham come to visit they always overstay their welcome but everyone is too altruistic to point it out to them. Georgiana can hardly believe the liberties her new sister-in-law takes in not treating her esteemed older brother with the Godlike awe and respect she has always regarded him. As for Lady Catherine, she kept her word and has completely estranged herself from her favorite nephew while Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy will be forever grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner for their part in bringing them together, albeit inadvertently.

THE END