Might there be other possible reasons for Darcy entering into the conversation? Until now, it has mostly been a back-and-forth between Bingley and his sister as they sit at the card table.

Elizabeth only arrived at Netherfield this day, and spent most of her time with her sister, and apparently participated in little conversation at dinner. Just prior to this exchange, Elizabeth has joined them late in the evening from her sister’s sickroom, declined to play cards, and been the subject of Miss Bingley’s wit. She exchanged a few words with Bingley, and apparently selected a book, but as the group at cards continues conversing: Elizabeth was so much caught by what passed as to leave her very little attention for her book; and soon laying it wholly aside, she drew near the card-table, and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his eldest sister, to observe the game and to better attend to the conversation that caught her so.

Immediately upon Elizabeth sitting at the card table with them, Darcy “involves” Elizabeth in the conversation by comparing his sister’s height to hers. Is it not possible that Darcy enters into this exchange about accomplishments between brother and sister to tempt Elizabeth into offering her opinions? Why do I think this is a possibility? Back at Lucas Lodge we know that “as a step towards conversing with her himself, [he] attended to her conversation with others,” and now he is ready to go beyond the listening stage.