Austen August: A Pride and Prejudice Read-A-Long discussion

The next day, Darcy and his sister visit the Gardiners and Elizabeth at the inn where they are staying.


When she is actually introduced to Miss Darcy, Elizabeth is relieved to find she seems as embarrased as herself. She reflects that her reputation is also that she is very “proud” but realises now that Miss Darcy, like her brother, is just very shy.

On seeing Bingley again, all her negative thoughts of him are long gone, and she wishes could find out if he still thought of Jane at all. This is soon remedied by Bingley commenting that he hasn't seen or heard of Jane since he last saw her, specifically on the 26th November, when they danced at the Netherfield Ball (which means Caroline's letters were full of BS after all!). He asks Lizzie quietly when they are talking alone whether “all of her sisters” are still living at Longbourn or not.

When the Darcys leave the inn, they invite the Gardiners and Lizzie to dine at Pemberley with them. By this point, the Gardiners are very aware that Darcy is in love with Elizabeth.

Elizabeth spends some time reflecting on what her current opinion of Darcy is, and she realises she doesn't hate him, and is actually feeling more positive about him...she is grateful that despite how horrible she has treated him, that he is still being nice to her and her family, and also it would appear that she is grateful generally that he doesn't hate her after her rejection of him- maybe she is hoping for a second chance, eh?