The scene at the pianoforte starts out very merrily IMO. Lizzy is laughing very hardily at the picture Darcy paints of her professing opinions not her own and Darcy is smilingly unafraid of her. I love the way Lizzy says “prepare yourself for something very dreadful” and “to my certain knowledge” ladies who wanted to dance could not for lack of partners. LoL! I also think Col Fitzwilliam does not seem surprised at Darcy’s behavior at the assembly and his answer, “It is because he will not give himself the trouble” suggests to me that really Darcy’s behavior was a habit and not the result of just being irritable—although I think he probably was annoyed and irritable at being at such an assembly. I think Bingley is not the only friend who has witnessed Darcy giving offense in social situations. The more I think about Darcy’s behavior that evening the less defensible it seems. ;D