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Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners were very much admired at the Parsonage, and the ladies all felt that he must add considerably to the pleasure of their engagements at Rosings. It was some days, however, before they received any invitation thither -- for while there were visitors in the house they could not be necessary; and it was not till Easter-day, almost a week after the gentlemen's arrival, that they were honoured by such an attention, and then they were merely asked on leaving church to come there in the evening. For the last week they had seen very little of either Lady Catherine or her daughter. Colonel Fitzwilliam had called at the parsonage more than once during the time, but Mr. Darcy they had only seen at church.
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1
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- Manners are presentable. It serves a great purpose.
- The simple truth of friendship and companionship is need.
- The company of the ladies was not so acceptable as before.
- After his first visit to the parsonage, Darcy was not seen there for a week while his cousin came more than once. The fullness of emotions of love and the consequent awkwardness of his behaviour kept him away
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The invitation was accepted of course, and at a proper hour they joined the party in Lady Catherine's drawing-room. Her ladyship received them civilly, but it was plain that their company was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else; and she was, in fact, almost engrossed by her nephews, speaking to them, especially to Darcy, much more than to any other person in the room.
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5
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Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them; anything was a welcome relief to him at Rosings; and Mrs. Collins's pretty friend had moreover caught his fancy very much. He now seated himself by her, and talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire, of travelling and staying at home, of new books and music, that Elizabeth had never been half so well entertained in that room before; and they conversed with so much spirit and flow, as to draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself, as well as of Mr. Darcy. His eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards them with a look of curiosity; and that her ladyship, after a while, shared the feeling, was more openly acknowledged, for she did not scruple to call out --
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7
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- Elizabeth has a striking personality. No wonder the Colonel liked her.
- This is the evening in which Elizabeth shows Darcy (and his aunt) that she is good enough to be a mistress of Pemberley. This scene establishes her value just as Darcy's meeting with her aunt and uncle in Pemberley establishes theirs.
- At Rosings Darcy’s eyes were on Elizabeth
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"What is that you are saying, Fitzwilliam? What is it you are talking of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is."
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10
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- Lady Catherine insists on being the only centre of attention. Seeing Fitzwilliam speaking to Elizabeth, she wants to know what it is
- Lady Catherine wants to be the only centre of attraction.
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"We are speaking of music, madam," said he, when no longer able to avoid a reply.
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14
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"Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is of all subjects my delight. I must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of music. There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health had allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully. How does Georgiana get on, Darcy?"
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15
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- She even announces she would have been proficient in music, which she has not learnt. She spares no space, even in imagination, from her domination. Even Miss Darcy who constantly practices is not spared. She is mean to invite Elizabeth to the servants’ part of the house
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Mr. Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister's proficiency.
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24
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"I am very glad to hear such a good account of her," said Lady Catherine; "and pray tell her from me, that she cannot expect to excel if she does not practise a great deal."
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25
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- By any definition, Lady Catherine is boorish, officious, ungainly in her manners.
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"I assure you, madam," he replied, "that she does not need such advice. She practises very constantly."
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26
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- Elizabeth was brought there to see that Darcy too is uncultured.
- Darcy’s refusal of Lady Catherine’s advice to Miss Darcy is uncivil.
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"So much the better. It cannot be done too much; and when I next write to her, I shall charge her not to neglect it on any account. I often tell young ladies that no excellence in music is to be acquired without constant practice. I have told Miss Bennet several times that she will never play really well unless she practices more; and though Mrs. Collins has no instrument, she is very welcome, as I have often told her, to come to Rosings every day, and play on the piano forte in Mrs. Jenkinson's room. She would be in nobody's way, you know, in that part of the house."
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28
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- Lady Catherine’s invitation to Elizabeth is an offence.
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Mr. Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt's ill-breeding, and made no answer.
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33
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- Darcy has an occasion to be ashamed of his aunt in the presence of Elizabeth.
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When coffee was over Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth of having promised to play to him; and she sat down directly to the instrument. He drew a chair near her. Lady Catherine listened to half a song, and then talked, as before, to her other nephew; till the latter walked away from her, and moving with his usual deliberation towards the pianoforte, stationed himself so as to command a full view of the fair performer's countenance. Elizabeth saw what he was doing, and at the first convenient pause, turned to him with an arch smile, and said --
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34
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- A gentleman is one who delights those around him by his very presence.
- Elizabeth plays. Darcy stares at her. He is unable to tear himself from her. Not knowing that, Elizabeth tells him her courage rises when challenged. He is pleased by her affront. An abuse being more intense than an ordinary conversation, young men are pleased when abused by the girls they love
- He is unable to see what she speaks is her own opinion. He brushes it aside
- He tries not to see a blemish in her
- Again, she is anxious to poke fun at his expense and provoke him exposing him to his cousin. It is her feminine initiative to forge the relationship of marriage
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"You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming in all this state to hear me? But I will not be alarmed though your sister does play so well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me."
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38
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"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."
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42
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- The characteristic of her courage is to rise when challenged.
- It is the character of all things great.
- Particularly, it is the character of infinity – to grow when spent.
- While she is challenging him, he is praising her which is lost on her.
- All her opinions that offend him he is willing to take, not her own.
- A true lover.
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Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself, and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, "Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion of me, and teach you not to believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meeting with a person so well able to expose my real character, in a part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself off with some degree of credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to my disadvantage in Hertfordshire -- and, give me leave to say, very impolitic too -- for it is provoking me to retaliate, and such things may come out as will shock your relations to hear."
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43
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- She exposes him mercilessly
- To put a man who seeks her on his defence is a feminine strategy
- The psychological fulfillment he seeks in the woman translates itself this way in human relationship
- She recognizes her particular luck, describing it as unlucky.
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"I am not afraid of you," said he smilingly.
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46
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- He draws her into a conversation even when he knows what was coming will not be to his taste.
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"Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of," cried Colonel Fitzwilliam. "I should like to know how he behaves among strangers."
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47
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"You shall hear then -- but prepare yourself for something very dreadful. The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire, you must know, was at a ball -- and at this ball, what do you think he did? He danced only four dances! I am sorry to pain you -- but so it was. He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce; and, to my certain knowledge, more than one young lady was sitting down in want of a partner. Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny the fact."
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49
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- She openly, but pleasantly, accuses him.
- At the Netherfield dance and now here, she draws him into a quarrel.
- She fully repays him for his ‘tolerable’.
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"I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the assembly beyond my own party."
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55
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"True; and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball room. Well, Colonel Fitzwilliam, what do I play next? My fingers wait your orders."
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56
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"Perhaps," said Darcy, "I should have judged better had I sought an introduction; but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to strangers."
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59
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- Darcy, in many words, says he is not well-bred.
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"Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?" Said Elizabeth, still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him why a man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?"
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60
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- She pointedly tells him he is not sensible, not well educated.
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"I can answer your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble."
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62
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- The Colonel calls Darcy supercilious.
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"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."
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64
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"My fingers," said Elizabeth, "do not move over this instrument in the masterly manner which I see so many women's do. They have not the same force or rapidity, and do not produce the same expression. But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault -- because I would not take the trouble of practising. It is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman's of superior execution."
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66
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- She mounts the offensive by destroying his own defence
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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."
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70
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- He is not offended by her affronts.
- Still, he finds it possible to praise her.
- In his disqualification, he takes her in.
- Darcy in defending himself includes her in his type
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Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy --
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74
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- Lady Catherine is jealous about Darcy.
- Elizabeth is more than satisfied that there is no Darcy in the direction of Anne.
- Lady Catherine, had she been watchful, could have seen Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth.
- Again, Lady Catherine interferes
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"Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn."
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77
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- She constantly sings the praise of her daughter, a praise that would be her due had she learnt music
- Physical people dream of achieving by speaking
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Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his cousin's praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss De Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have been just as likely to marry her, had she been his relation.
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80
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Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the gentlemen, remained at the instrument till her ladyship's carriage was ready to take them all home.
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81
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- Lady Catherine gives enough occasions to Elizabeth to practice self-restraint
- This is the preparation for her to receive her onslaught later
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