] The passages you selected out well illustrates why Sir William was awed by Lady Catherine.

There was another passage that I like, also in Chapter 29, that refers more specifically to Lizzy's reason for not being overawed: "When they ascended the steps to the hall, ...Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could witness without trepidation."

] The idea that Lady C. may be alittle afraid of Darcy came up in relation to the rumoured engagement. I think the idea was Lady C. preferred to approach Lizzy to acquire 'the universal contridiction' rather than Darcy who she probably knew as obstinate and bull headed so she thought less likely to yield than Lizzy. Really, it's probably fear of losing what Darcy possessed and could bring to the de Boughs that outweighed any fear of Darcy personally.

I have a hard time imagining Lady C being "afraid of" Darcy, and I think I would describe her as "concerned" rather than "afraid" in relation to the situation with Darcy. I agree that she felt Lizzy would be more ductile, and that's the reason she went to Lizzy. She might also have felt that she could deal with the situation by approaching an acquaintance with whom she had no real relationship and thus not damage her relationship with her nephew.

] The engagement rumour if nothing else made Lady C. uneasy as it confirmed for her (what the readers knows)that Darcy was not influenced by her and could frustrate her wishes.

"Uneasy" is another good word to describe her feelings.

] BTW: I think at Rosings Lady Catherine had rather enjoyed Lizzy's company. ... That's what makes me think Lady C. may've had some respect for Lizzy- despite her middle social class. She could even play and converse while Mariah Lucas just sat up like a good little girl ;)

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to describe her feelings as "respect," but I agree that the invitation (practically an order) indicates that she got some enjoyment out of what Lizzy provided.

] Please pardon length of post.