Pride and Prejudice
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Pride and Prejudice Chapter 31 Summary
- A week later, they are invited to come to Rosings.
- Lady Catherine greets them, but it's clear that she prefers other people's company; she spends most of the time talking to her nephews, especially Darcy.
- Darcy's cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam seems very glad to see them, and Elizabeth catches his interest. He sits beside her and entertains her so well that Darcy's eyes are repeatedly drawn to them.
- Lady Catherine also notices. She wants to know what they are talking about.
- When Fitzwilliam replies that they are discussing music, she starts jabbering on and on about it. She says that Charlotte doesn't know how to play, but that Elizabeth is welcome to use the piano in the housekeeper's room.
- Fitzwilliam reminds Elizabeth that she promised to play for him and she does so.
- Mr. Darcy positions himself so he can see Elizabeth's entire face. She stops playing to let him know that he can't intimidate her; she is too stubborn to let somebody else alter her behavior.
- He replies that he will not tell her she's mistaken because he believes she already knows that and, furthermore, she often expresses opinions that are not really hers.
- She laughs at his witty reply. Then she says it is unwise of him to portray her thus, when she can reveal his own shocking behavior to his relatives.
- What shocking behavior would this be? Elizabeth is probably thinking of Wickham's story, but she chickens out and simply describes how, on the first night they met, he danced only four dances even though the male/female ratio left lots of women without partners.
- Darcy explains that he has difficulty talking to people he doesn't know. The man's just shy!
- Elizabeth doesn't buy his excuse, arguing that, although other women play the piano better than her, she can only blame herself because she does not take the time to practice. The lesson to Darcy is clear: He needs to practice talking to strangers and being nice.
- Lady Catherine comes over and begins commenting on Elizabeth's playing, pointing out her strengths and weaknesses and how much she would improve if she were to practice more.
