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"A Convenient Distance"   Written by Kathryn Ann (4/23/2010 10:40 a.m.)
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Having discovered that it is very hard to focus on foreshadowing until we get to later chapters, I do want to call attention to this from Chapter 23, because it is a highly amusing scene:

When Sir William Lucas comes to Longbourne to announce Charlotte's engagement to Mr. Collins:

Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him ... now put herself forward to confirm his account ... and endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters by the earnestness of her congratulations to Sir William, ... and by making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London.

Elizabeth displays very civil manners here, unlike her mother and younger sisters, and tries to put Sir William at ease. It is interesting that among the variety of remarks she makes are those on:
the happiness that might be expected from the match, which we know she thinks is impossible;
the excellent character of Mr. Collins, which we know she does not believe at all;
and the very convenient distance of Hunsford from London, which we may surmise she does not agree with, given the two previous remarks, although she may intend to gratify Sir William's ego by intimating that Charlotte will be more in London.

What do you think? Very civil and polite, or has she learned something about insincere flattery from Miss Bingley? Is she in earnest?


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