The finish to P & P

Fantastic! I just love this book....

I very much enjoyed these last several chapters.
A few highlights: I love how Elizabeth stood up to Lady Catherine, not giving her the satisfaction of a clear-cut answer. And then I can just imagine when Lady Catherine relays to Darcy their conversation and I can just see his face lighting up with a new hope that not all hope is lost to gain Elizabeth's love.
And I think it is very interesting that on two separate occasions by separate people, both Elizabeth and Darcy are described by one word: obstinate. This isn't a word I use frequently (if ever), so I looked it up, and according to Webster's obstinate means "perversely adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion.......implies usually an unreasonable persistence". So true of both of them in many aspects of their lives!

I also cannot believe Wickham just continues to lie to Elizabeth's face because he doesn't know she knows the whole truth when he talks to her about running into Darcy in London. What an ass!

I do love Mr. Bennett's speech to Elizabeth to be assured of her love for Darcy, which he cannot imagine is possible: "I now give it to you, if you are resolved on having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about" And then after Elizabeth's explanation for her change of heart, Mr. Bennett concludes with "Well, my dear, I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to any one less worthy." Ahhh.....lovely.

And I like Darcy's answer to Elizabeth's question of when he fell in love with her: "I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." True love. Beautiful.