Pride and Prejudice #9

"Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!" (Austen 204).

At this point in the novel, Elizabeth is first introduced to Darcy's estate and to his servants. Here, she imagines what it would be like to be the mistress of Pemberley, and Darcy's wife. While talking with his cordial servant Mrs. Reynolds, Elizabeth realizes that she has nothing negative to say regarding Darcy's behavior or attitude, but rather compliments saying that Darcy is “the sweetest, most generous-hearted boy in the world.” This is surprising to Elizabeth because she believes that Darcy is not of good character because of what he did to Bingley and her sister. When Elizabeth sees Darcy walking through the grounds, she is suprised to see him since the proposal. Elizabeth notices that he seems altogether changed, and that his previous impertinence has remarkably diminished. This is important becuase it shows that Darcy wants Elizabeth to see him as a changed man from what he was from when they first met. Darcy does not want to seem insolent, but rather affable.