The Magic 30 minutes

Actually, Anne, wasn't it the Colonel who waited a half hour?

There is something nice about a 30-minute period.

Actually, in P&P2 the Colonel waits for her for nearly half an hour, but in the book it is almost a full hour. Darcy only stops by briefly to take his leave. I have always wondered whether the Colonel's extended visit was just because he liked Lizzy very much and didn't want to leave without the chance to say good-bye, or if Darcy had asked him to make himself available to Lizzy in case she had any questions to ask him. One of my favorite lines in P&P (for being so terribly tortured for our hero) is: "If your abhorence of me should make my assertions valueless, you can not be prevented by the same cause from confiding in my cousin; and that there may be the possibility of consulting with him, I shall endeavor to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the morning." It must have been heart-wrenching for him to think that the woman he loves abhors him (I can't help thinking of him as a living breathing and (for Cheryl) bathing human being.) So, I think maybe he said a word or two to his cousin, something along the lines of: "Fitzwilliam, I would like you do to do me a favour. Would you try to find an opportunity to speak alone with Miss Bennet today. I believe she may have something she wishes to ask you. If she does, I would like you to answer in full--no matter what the question. Will you?" I'm sure Fitzwilliam would have been glad to have another moment alone with Lizzy, and if she had returned, he might have suggested a short walk in the garden.

Moved from "propose new threads" topic: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Topic 6 of 191 [austen]: Propose new threads here Response 62 of 62: Donna (Donna) * Sun, Feb 16, 1997 (13:15) * 4 lines There are 3 reasons: 1. Proper thing to do is say good bye to Lizzie and The Collin's 2. Col. Fiztwilliam (was there) would back him up on the Wickham and Georgiana elopement if needed. 3. He would not see her again and would not know her feelings about the letter. If she wrote a return letter it would mean that they were engaged and if he would write her again it would mean the same.

Sorry about that "Senior Moment" - getting my "Fitzwilliams" mixed up! If Lizzie wrote a return letter they would be engaged? Oh my...I think Darcy had made up his mind to marry Lizzy, which is why he wrote the letter, but he also did want to know her feelings. Do you think at that time, while still emotional, he would have, dare I say it, grovelled. Or at least asked forgivness? I have trouble getting into any chat area- it lookes like I log in 15 times. often I just get a blank grey screen, or I can' log off. embarassing, but I'm sure it's our PC

Maybe ATT World Net has the same trouble with the chat room that AOL and Prodigy has, Anne.

I do have a question -- after that horrific proposal & Darcy handing Lizzie the letter, he actually shows up back at Hunsford to take his leave. Wouldn't it have been terribly awkward of him to see her after all that's past? Or was he just doing it for propriety's sake?

Amy2: Wouldn't it have been terribly awkward of him to see her after all that's past? Or was he just doing it for propriety's sake? yes...and yes. ;-)

I suspect he was fairly certain that she would not see him in any case, and it would have looked very bad to leave without attempting to say goodbye - that would have raised more comment.

I think Darcy probably went to the parsonage right after handing Lizzie the letter so as he'd be sure not to see her there. He said his good-byes and left right away. Col. Fitz probably went later and waited around longer.

I'd always assumed he went to the parsonage first, intending to give her the letter; how else would he have been sure she was out walking? Finding her out he went after her to give her the letter, rather than wait for her at the cottage and endure the Collinses company in the meantime...

According to the book... Elizabeth goes toward the place where she normally walks, then remembers that Darcy sometimes goes there. So she goes for a walk along the lane. As she passes one of the gates to the park (ie Rosings) she sees a gentleman in a sort of grove edging the park. He calls out to her and when she approaches, holds out the letter and says "I have been walking in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you." Presumably it would have been easier to give her the letter in private than in front of everyone. Earlier in the story, Lizzy is puzzled by the fact that she ofter runs into D on her walks, and that even when she makes a point of telling him that she often walks that way, he still turns up. He obviously knew that she would be likely to go for a walk that morning.

Inko, I hadnt thought about him hurring back. I guess I see him, at first, as a spoiled, rich aristrocrat who Lizzy tempers. maybe thats the catch - Havent we wanted to smooth off rough edges of the men we love.? It never works in reality, but it did in the book..Lizzy turns a sour puss into a caring loving husband.I bet you all have already discussed this!!

Inko, I hadnt thought about him hurring back. I guess I see him, at first, as a spoiled, rich aristrocrat who Lizzy tempers. maybe thats the catch - Havent we wanted to smooth off rough edges of the men we love.? It never works in reality, but it did in the book..Lizzy turns a sour puss into a caring loving husband.I bet you all have already discussed this!!

I dont know why it posted twice sorry. I miss the pony express...

Something earlier about actually asking Col. to make himself available to Eliz. - hasn't he talked her up to him already. Even before Fitzwilliam meets her. Some comments from Fitz. when he's with her early on. All these new people Liza. runs into seem to have already heard a bit about her, esp. from someone who broods and doesn't talk much.

Ann in response #3.....I like your idea of what most likely happened in regards to Col Fitzwilliam waiting for Lizzy at the parsonage. Since Darcy already told Lizzy that he could substantiate the story he told her in his letter.....and it seemed very important to Darcy that Lizzy believed the truth about him...I could see that he might ask his cousin to be available to answer any questions Lizzy may have...or just to be there to say "it's all true!"

So you guys think that Darcy knew Lizzy was still in the groves reading his letter when he came to call, so as to avoid seeing her at the Parsonage? If they had met again here, it seems it would have been terribly awkward for both.

I like the idea that Both gentlemen came to call to say goodbye. Darcy leaves to avoid running into Lizzy. But Fitzwilliam stays on to say his farewells. It makes sense to me.

But did he KNOW she wouldn't show up immediately, so he could leave in safety?

There was WAY too much in that letter for her to just read it & head home. Very obviously she had strong negative feelings toward him. He knew she would be affected by the information he presented - probably still disgusted with him. No way she could just read it and head home. Surely he realized she wouldn't want to chance being interrupted by Mr. Collins, or anybody. So, getting to the point, he definitely knew she would still be out when he stopped by!

OK, thanks Cindy. I finally got my answer!