The Annotated Pride and Prejudice

by Austen, Jane

  The conversation soon turned upon fishing, and she heard Mr. Darcy invite him, with the greatest civility, to fish there as often as he chose, while he continued in the neighbourhood, offering at the same time to supply him with fishing tackle, and pointing out those parts of the stream where there was usually most sport. Mrs. Gardiner, who was walking arm in arm with Elizabeth, gave her a look expressive of her wonder. Elizabeth said nothing, but it gratified her exceedingly; the compliment must be all for herself. Her astonishment, however, was extreme; and continually was she repeating, “Why is he so altered? From what can it proceed? It cannot be for me, it cannot be for my sake that his manners are thus softened. My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as this. It is impossible that he should still love me.”

  After walking some time in this way, the two ladies in front, the two gentlemen behind, on resuming their places, after descending to the brink of the river for the better inspection of some curious water-plant, there chanced to be a little alteration.73 It originated in Mrs. Gardiner, who, fatigued by the exercise of the morning, found Elizabeth's arm inadequate to her support, and consequently preferred her husband's. Mr. Darcy took her place by her niece, and they walked on together. After a short silence, the lady first spoke. She wished him to know that she had been assured of his absence before she came to the place, and accordingly began by observing, that his arrival had been very unexpected—”for your housekeeper,” she added, “informed us that you would certainly not be here till to-morrow; and indeed, before we left Bakewell,74 we understood that you were not immediately expected in the country.” He acknowledged the truth of it all; and said that business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling.75 “They will join me early tomorrow,” he continued, “and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you, —Mr. Bingley and his sisters.”

  Elizabeth answered only by a slight bow. Her thoughts were instantly driven back to the time when Mr. Bingley's name had been last mentioned between them; and if she might judge from his complexion, his mind was not very differently engaged.

  “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?”

  The surprise of such an application was great indeed; it was too great for her to know in what manner she acceded to it. She immediately felt that whatever desire Miss Darcy might have of being acquainted with her, must be the work of her brother,76 and without looking farther, it was satisfactory; it was gratifying to know that his resentment had not made him think really ill of her.

  They now walked on in silence; each of them deep in thought. Elizabeth was not comfortable; that was impossible; but she was flattered and pleased. His wish of introducing his sister to her, was a compliment of the highest kind.77 They soon outstripped the others, and when they had reached the carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were half a quarter of a mile behind.

  He then asked her to walk into the house —but she declared herself not tired, and they stood together on the lawn. At such a time, much might have been said, and silence was very awkward. She wanted to talk, but there seemed an embargo78 on every subject. At last she recollected that she had been travelling, and they talked of Matlock and Dove Dale79 with great perseverance. Yet time and her aunt moved slowly—and her patience and her ideas80 were nearly worn out before the tete-a-tete was over. On Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's coming up, they were all pressed to go into the house and take some refreshment; but this was declined, and they parted on each side with the utmost politeness. Mr. Darcy handed the ladies into the carriage, and when it drove off, Elizabeth saw him walking slowly towards the house.

  The observations of her uncle and aunt now began; and each of them pronounced him to be infinitely superior to any thing they had expected. “He is perfectly well behaved, polite, and unassuming,” said her uncle.

  “There is something a little stately81 in him to be sure,” replied her aunt, “but it is confined to his air, and is not unbecoming. I can now say with the housekeeper, that though some people may call him proud, I have seen nothing of it.”

  “I was never more surprised than by his behaviour to us. It was more than civil; it was really attentive; and there was no necessity for such attention. His acquaintance with Elizabeth was very trifling.”

  “To be sure, Lizzy,” said her aunt, “he is not so handsome as Wickham; or rather he has not Wickham's countenance,82 for his features are perfectly good. But how came you to tell us that he was so disagreeable?”

  Elizabeth excused herself as well as she could; said that she had liked him better when they met in Kent than before, and that she had never seen him so pleasant as this morning.

  “But perhaps he may be a little whimsical in his civilities” replied her uncle. “Your great men83 often are; and therefore I shall not take him at his word about fishing, as he might change his mind another day, and warn me off his grounds.”

  Elizabeth felt that they had entirely mistaken his character, but said nothing.

  “From what we have seen of him” continued Mrs. Gardiner, “I really should not have thought that he could have behaved in so cruel a way by any body, as he has done by poor Wickham. He has not an ill-natured look. On the contrary, there is something pleasing about his mouth when he speaks. And there is something of dignity in his countenance, that would not give one an unfavourable idea of his heart. But to be sure, the good lady who shewed us the house, did give him a most flaming character!84 I could hardly help laughing aloud sometimes. But he is a liberal85 master, I suppose, and that in the eye of a servant comprehends every virtue.”86

  Elizabeth here felt herself called on to say something in vindication of his behaviour to Wickham; and therefore gave them to understand, in as guarded a manner as she could, that by what she had heard from his relations in Kent, his actions were capable of a very different construction;87 and that his character was by no means so faulty, nor Wickham's so amiable,88 as they had been considered in Hertfordshire. In confirmation of this, she related the particulars of all the pecuniary transactions in which they had been connected, without actually naming her authority, but stating it to be such as might be relied on.

  Mrs. Gardiner was surprised and concerned; but as they were now approaching the scene of her former pleasures,89 every idea gave way to the charm of recollection; and she was too much engaged in pointing out to her husband all the interesting spots in its environs, to think of any thing else. Fatigued as she had been by the morning's walk, they had no sooner dined than she set off again in quest of her former acquaintance, and the evening was spent in the satisfactions of an intercourse renewed after many years discontinuance.

  The occurrences of the day were too full of interest to leave Elizabeth much attention for any of these new friends; and she could do nothing but think, and think with wonder, of Mr. Darcy's civility, and above all, of his wishing her to be acquainted with his sister.90

  2. lodge: dwelling at the entrance of the park. Also known as the gatehouse, it would be lived in and staffed by a porter, whose job was to control access, especially by carriages, into the park. It was meant to impress visitors as well, and had become more common as visiting grand homes and their grounds became more popular.

  3. By the eighteenth century almost all grand homes had large parks around them (“park” meant especially the ground that had been landscaped); the greater importance of parks was another reason for the increased building of gatehouses to guard entrance into them. The growing emphasis on personal privacy also caused wooded areas around the outer portions of parks to become standard, for this would separate the house and the more open interior sections of the grounds from the outside.

  4. For the significance of the abruptness of the grounds, see note 56 on p. 461.

  5. Stone had long b
een the preferred material for grand houses, and was associated with wealth and high status. It was especially likely to be found in houses, like this one, in the north of England because of the widespread availability there of stone suitable for construction.

  6. In other words, a stream that was naturally of good size was made grander by being dammed or redirected in some manner. Landscape designers of the period often altered streams, for a beautiful body of water within a park was considered essential. In many cases streams were dammed to create a lake, though the lake was made to look as natural as possible.

  7. This fulfills the prevailing idea of landscaping, which was to make changes that would supplement or harmonize with the natural features of a place, rather than to override these features by a purely man-made plan (as would be done in a geometric formal garden).

  8. The first time Elizabeth has such an idea. Clearly the grandeur and wealth of Pemberley has impressed her, but it is more than that—after all, she already knew of Darcy's wealth. Her reaction comes just after noticing the good taste and attractiveness of Pemberley's grounds, which would be considered a reflection of the owner's character. Many owners of grand homes then were engaged in improving their grounds, but obviously not all improvements would be done with the same intelligence and eye for beauty.

  9. That is, examining how the house looked from close range.

  10. housekeeper: the chief indoor servant; she would normally lead tours of the house. The standard practice was to offer her a generous tip, which would naturally make her happy to conduct such tours. Such tips were generally the only payment expected of visitors: most houses did not charge admission (and the few that did were criticized for the practice).

  11. less fine: less showy or fancy in her appearance (i.e., with less finery). This is meant as praise. The housekeeper's lack of show, either in her appearance or her behavior, serves an important function, both in demonstrating that the Darcy family may not be as proud and pretentious as reported and in indicating that the housekeeper's praise of Darcy, seen shortly, does not result simply from pride or pretentiousness on her part.

  12. its prospect: the view it presented.

  13. disposition: arrangement, especially with regard to the general design.

  14. These descriptions of Pemberley, which will continue through this chapter, constitute the one point in the novel where Jane Austen departs from her usual reluctance to provide detailed descriptions of place. The reason for this departure is that the physical features of Pemberley play a crucial role in the story, both because they illustrate Darcy's character and because Elizabeth's reaction to these features helps change her attitude toward Darcy.

  15. Arranging for each side or window of the house to display an attractive prospect or view, both of the immediate grounds and of more distant natural scenes, was one of the main goals of the landscaping improvements of the time. Jane Austen indicates her awareness that this was a recent trend in Emma, when she describes a house that, thanks to “all the old neglect of prospect,” has scarcely a view of the gardens and meadow and stream that are adjacent to it.

  16. furniture: furnishings.

  17. Thus Darcy contrasts with his aunt. Elizabeth's realization of the differences between the two, differences she had earlier failed to appreciate, will form an important development in the last part of the novel.

  18. Because, as people in trade and thus not genteel, they would be ineligible to come as guests.

  19. That is, regret at having refused Darcy.

  20. steward: manager of his estates; see p. 151, note 53.

  21. person: physical person.

  22. coloured: blushed.

  23. A gallery containing family portraits was a standard feature of a grand house. A wealthy family would be able to afford the high cost of commissioning a painted portrait, and each generation's pictures would be preserved.

  24. Darcy has preserved Wickham's picture, despite their mutual hatred, out of respect for his father, who was fond of Wickham. Darcy's willingness to do this indicates his lack of the implacable resentment Elizabeth accused him of earlier.

  25. easy: relaxed, open.

  26. pride or attachment: pride in having such a fine master, or genuine attachment to him.

  27. Mrs. Reynolds' ease of communication indicates her relative refinement for a servant, as does her mostly correct speech, though her language is still a little less grammatical and more plain than that seen in most other characters. She does not use the colloquial or lower-class expressions that would mark the typical servant (and that Jane Austen shows on a few other occasions in her novels when she presents servants' speech). Since being the chief servant in as large a household as Pemberley would be a job requiring substantial skill, it is possible Mrs. Reynolds came from a higher social class than most servants. Even if she did not, her position as housekeeper would have exposed her greatly to the speech and manners of her employers, which she in turn would have picked up and imitated. This was a common phenomenon with upper servants, especially in large households where the upper servants would tend to be sharply separated, and perhaps even housed apart, from the lower servants. Mrs. Reynolds' separation from ordinary servants would be especially pronounced due to the absence of a mistress at Pemberley, which means she would effectively be running the house.

  28. This is presumably an overstatement: it is hard to imagine a child never saying a cross word since the age of four—though he could have said them out of Mrs. Reynolds' hearing. Yet it may be only a slight exaggeration. Darcy, while he can be cold and haughtily silent, and can also be sharp in his replies to others, is never directly insulting (at least to people's faces); his sharp replies usually are made in the form of general statements of opinion rather than direct personal criticisms. Moreover, his reserve, and his strong self-control, would keep him in general from expressing any anger he felt, especially toward a servant, who would be unlikely to say or do anything to provoke strong emotion in him.

  29. This description, which goes beyond the preceding statement that he had never uttered a harsh word, does suggest unbalanced partiality. It certainly conflicts with Darcy's own description of himself as a child toward the end of the novel.

  30. affable: benevolent, accessible.

  31. Helping the poor was an important function for one in Darcy's position. The large numbers of people in this society with meager incomes, and the fairly limited means of public support available, meant that the need for such assistance was often great, especially in years of poor harvests.

  32. family prejudice: the term family could embrace the servants of a household as well. Many servants tended, as Mrs. Reynolds clearly does, to identify strongly with the family that employed them.

  33. In the period before the novel was written it became standard for grand houses to have a large, and often elaborate, central staircase.

  34. To my fancy: from my perspective, judging by my tastes or inclinations.

  35. poor friend: Wickham.

  36. authority: source of information.

  37. lobby: passage, corridor. This refers to an open area at the top of the stairs that gave access to other rooms; it was a typical feature of great houses.

  38. This probably means the room has new furniture. Older furniture would frequently be kept, even by wealthy families, which is what has happened in the apartments, or rooms, below. It is the new furniture that gives the sitting room its “greater lightness and elegance:” a basic trend in furniture design over the century, or more, preceding this novel was for pieces to become lighter and thinner, something that was seen as more elegant by those living at this time. For a sample of this furniture, see illustration on p. 457.

  39. art: art of painting. Elizabeth earlier told Lady Catherine that neither she nor any of her sisters had learned to draw.

  40. visible below: could be seen elsewhere (and thus do not have to be looked at again by Elizabeth).

  41. Her drawing as well as playing music indicates how
accomplished she is.

  42. The implication of this sentence is that the gallery contained other paintings besides portraits—it would be hard to imagine a portrait being unintelligible. This was not unusual in a gallery then: many wealthy people collected works of art and displayed them in their homes; a fine collection could demonstrate the taste and wealth of the owner. In fact, such galleries formed one of the main attractions for tourists to grand houses, and many accounts of tours mentioned works of great masters that had been seen.

  Elizabeth's reactions to the paintings may reflect some of Jane Austen's own sentiments. She only refers occasionally to paintings in her letters and seems to have appreciated painting less than other arts. She also appears to prefer portraits above all other paintings: her main object, in one visit to a public gallery, was to search for portraits that resembled, to her mind, the Elizabeth or Jane of this novel (May 24, 1813).

  43. regard: look (displayed in his picture), and affection (for her). The double meaning is intentional.

  44. impropriety of expression: meaning its proud haughtiness.

  45. the gardener: an upper servant. He helped implement the landscaping improvements that so many landowners pursued, which gave him a high status in the servant hierarchy. The gardener was normally the one to conduct visitors around the grounds, and he also expected to be tipped.

  46. The casual nature of Darcy's entrance, one of the most important events in the novel, is remarkable. It occurs with so little fuss or fanfare that it is almost possible for the reader to miss it.

  Aroom with the light furniture of the time. See p. 455, note 38.

  [From K. Warren Clouston, The Chippendale Period in English Furniture (London, 1897), p. 183]