Pride and Prejudice Volume 3, Chapter 18

Elizabeth and Darcy resolve the unanswered questions of their relationship. Darcy had come with Bingley to Longbourn to see if he could make Elizabeth love him, and he knew from Lady De Bourgh's lecture to him about Elizabeth's evilness that Elizabeth must have cared for him. Elizabeth insists that he only came to love her because she did not try to please him. She tells him, "You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them." Volume 3, Chapter 18, pg. 262 She is, however, still quite embarrassed by the way that she misjudged him from the beginning. He is just as ashamed of his first proposal to her and his behavior toward her up until that proposal.

Topic Tracking: Pride 12

He writes to Lady De Bourgh to tell her the news, and Elizabeth writes to Mrs. Gardiner. Jane receives a letter of congratulations from Miss Bingley that is as insincere as her kindness was, and Jane recognizes it, but doesn't hold it against Bingley.

The entire neighborhood hears of the engagements, and both Elizabeth and Jane receive heaps of congratulations.