Pride & Prejudice, ch. 44: With All Of This E・M・O・T・I・O・N

Credit again to Hugo Petras

This is one of those chapters that seems like the story is being put on pause. It’s broadly a repeat of the events in the previous chapter: Elizabeth is blindsided by Darcy’s arrival and must rely on standard social cues to carry her through it, while downplaying their relationship for the sake of her relatives. Plus, like, another nearly dialogue-less chapter? Come on, Jane Austen, couldn’t you have anticipated my modern sensibilities just a little bit more?

Of course, we do finally get to meet Georgiana Darcy (which counts for something), and her “exceedingly shy” personality reverberates all around this chapter. For one thing, Lizzy can relate to her almost right away, as she herself is caught off guard by the eager timing of this visit (trust Darcy to get an early start on the proceedings). The fact that Lizzy finds a member of the Darcy family relatable and charming within the first minute of meeting her is huge. Huge! It took six months and a painfully honest letter for her to admit that Darcy has his good points. Now she’s getting along with his baby sister? Growth!

Also, who else has noticed that Georgie’s physical description (“ her figure was formed, and her appearance womanly and graceful”) is similar to Lydia’s “stout” and “tall” description? So … is this a suggestion that Wickham has a type (ew), or merely ironic that the two youngest eligible women look more mature than they actually are?

Sweetening the deal is Bingley, who presumably bingled* his way into this visit. Though caught unawares, Lizzy is glad to see him: “had she still felt any [anger towards him], it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again.” He also makes it clear to Lizzy that he has Jane in his thoughts, as he appears to hope that Lizzy will be the first to mention her sister. He even states that it’s been “eight months” since he’s seen the Bennet family, and I have to say, the idea that Bingley has been pining after Jane for that long is … frustrating. It gives the knowledge that Darcy and his sisters successfully piloted him away from courting her a new angle. Does he really still believe that Jane does not love him? Or that the Bennets are a walking disaster that no one should associate with? Because “trying to trace a resemblance” in one sister’s face in order to recognize the woman he once loved is not the behavior of a man who has put the past behind him.

Lizzy is a bit of a nervous wreck. The pressure of being hostess kinda-sorta gets to her—not only does she want to make a good impression (hah!), but she also wants to better understand Darcy’s intentions and respond to them appropriately. Adorably, her visitors fully prepared to be charmed by her: “Bingley was ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined to be pleased.” Yowza.

Speaking of the latter, Darcy’s good behavior streak continues, much to Lizzy’s surprise. Her reaction is a stark reminder that it isn’t all unicorns and rainbows for them, even in these pre-runaway sister times: she is particularly watchful whenever Darcy converses with her aunt and uncle, still half-convinced that he’ll reverse course and start disdaining them instead. When this completely fails to take place, Lizzy “[can] hardly restrain her astonishment from being visible.” When Darcy beckons Georgiana to issue an invitation to Pemberley, Lizzy actually “turn[s] away her head” and Aunt Gardiner has to accept it on their behalf.

Meanwhile, it has dawned on the Gardiners that this visit is more than just a social call. Through them, we learn “that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was evident enough,” though Lizzy’s feelings are harder to pin down (as discussed below). They also ask around Lambton in their investigation into Darcy and learn that his reputation there is a million times more positive than it was around the Hertfordshire community; they also realize that the chatty and doting Mrs. Reynolds is a considerable “authority” on her master and not just an object of ridicule. The Darcy family has been accused of “pride” … by the denizens of a nearby “market-town” that they don’t step foot in. Uh-huh. I think that one is self-explanatory. They also gather from the Lambton scuttlebutt that Wickham left behind a lot of debts that were later paid by Darcy (a neat bit of foreshadowing there), so his reputation took a sizable hit.

Later that night, Lizzy attempts to grapple with her shifting feelings about Darcy. During the visit, it occurred to her that “[n]ever … had she seen him so desirous to please, so free from self-consequence or unbending reserve, as now, when no importance could result from the success of his endeavors.” Sounds like she still believes what Wickham told her about Darcy pleasing who he deems worthy. The more likely possibility—that Darcy wants to impress Lizzy and her relatives—occurs to her later: “Such a change … excited not only astonishment but gratitude—for to love, ardent love, it must be attributed.” Lizzy is still getting over the idea that Darcy would do so much to gain her good opinion rather than avoid her for the rest of his life. But she does show signs of accepting it, as she realizes that her previous “hatred” and “dislike” have disappeared, replaced by shame and now “gratitude” for his current attentions toward her. 

So does his probable love of her excite love for him? Not yet. She “esteem[s]” him. She has “a real interest in his welfare,” which she senses might have a lot to do with her (her anticipation here marks the place where her logic and her feelings overlap). One might argue that she’s being a bit too analytical here, but I think it fits her at this moment in her character journey. When she first met Darcy, she judged too quickly. Now, in hindsight and with all their shared baggage, she’s taking her time to come to a conclusion. And her future is potentially at stake. Of course she’s going to think this through! But the fact that Darcy has altered his behavior because of her not only speaks to her influence, but his appreciation. 

That may not sound incredibly romantic, so I’ll leave you with this: Lizzy cannot figure out why she’s speechless with happiness at the idea of visiting Pemberley again so soon. As Shakespeare said, “Silence is the perfectest herald of joy.”

Chapter the next: Old frenemies become fresh rivals, the ghost of Wickham appears, and Miss Bingley attempts to deploy a very mean art.

*bingle, v.: to pop up unexpectedly on social occasions with enthusiasm and sincerity. Ex.: “My friend Charlie just bingled into the hotel bar to be my wing-man.”