one of the reasons that Elizabeth first attracts Mr Darcy's interest is because of her honesty. Reading your interesting post, Line, made me think about Darcy's world, the sort of people he encounters--Caroline and Louise, the horrid Mr Hurst just in these opening chapters. The sisters are archly clever, but calculating, whereas Elizabeth is clever and open. The sisters are changeable, lacking in convictions; Elizabeth--she is like Darcy in this, isn't she?--has decided opinions.