] I was thinking about Lizzy's first meeting with Lady C. in Ch.29 'Her air was not concilatory, nor was her manner of receiving them...She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritive a tone, as marked her self importance.'

I was thinking of the lines just before those -- "In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly."

Sir William and Maria, as you said below, shared Lady C's values; Lizzy didn't.

] Actually, I had quite forgotten Mr Collins' relatives, Sir William and Mariah Lucas. Yes, people like the Lucas' were impressed by Lady Catherine's title, wealth and authoritive air because they had the same values (though not same rank) as her.

I think you've put your finger on it exactly.

] Yet, while I agree with you, I don't feel Lady C. cares to influence people like Sir William. Not the same way she would like to influence Darcy as I don't think she had any respect for Sir William.

I think that is because Darcy had, in a sense, something she wanted, and Sir William didn't. If he had had something she wanted, she would have wanted to influence him, and it seems unlikely he would have stood up to her. What she did want -- and get -- was due deference from him.

] It was earlier mentioned she might've been alittle afraid of her nephew, I think that could be true.

Hmmmm. I never thought of that. What makes you think so? And what was she afraid of?

] Possibly she reluctantly had some respect for Lizzie as well. I think they are the people whose actions she'd liked to influence.

But I don't think she wanted to influence them because she respected/feared them, only because they had/could deny her something that she wanted.