Plot Summary
Chapter 45 of Pride and Prejudice recounts Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner's visit to Pemberley to call on Miss Darcy. Having been invited the previous day by Mr. Darcy himself, Elizabeth arrives anxious about how Miss Bingley will receive her, knowing the woman's dislike stems from jealousy. The chapter explores the dynamics of a socially fraught drawing-room visit, Miss Bingley's failed attempt to embarrass Elizabeth, and Darcy's quiet but unmistakable declaration of his regard.
The Visit to Georgiana
Elizabeth and the Gardiners are shown into Pemberley's saloon, where they find Georgiana Darcy sitting with Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, and her companion Mrs. Annesley. Georgiana's reception is civil but painfully shy -- her embarrassment is mistaken by some as pride. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley barely acknowledge the visitors with a curtsey, and an awkward silence follows until Mrs. Annesley, the only truly well-bred woman among the hosts, initiates conversation with Mrs. Gardiner. Elizabeth observes that Miss Bingley watches her every word, particularly anything directed at Georgiana.
Darcy's Arrival and Miss Bingley's Jealousy
When refreshments are served -- fruits, cold meat, and cake -- the servants must be prompted by Mrs. Annesley before the shy Georgiana remembers her role as hostess. Elizabeth waits anxiously for Darcy's entrance, uncertain whether she wishes for or dreads it. When he appears, having left Mr. Gardiner and other gentlemen fishing by the river, Elizabeth resolves to appear perfectly at ease. Miss Bingley's jealous attention intensifies. Georgiana, encouraged by her brother's presence, makes greater efforts to converse, and Elizabeth sees that Darcy is eager for his sister and herself to become acquainted.
Miss Bingley's Wickham Barb
Seeing Darcy's attentiveness to Elizabeth, Miss Bingley strikes with a calculated remark about the militia leaving Meryton, intending to remind Elizabeth of Wickham and embarrass her in Darcy's eyes. The remark backfires spectacularly. Elizabeth answers with composure, but Darcy's complexion heightens and Georgiana is overcome with confusion -- both know, unlike Miss Bingley, the painful truth of Wickham's attempted elopement with Georgiana. Had Miss Bingley known the pain her hint caused, she would have refrained. Elizabeth's collected behavior quiets Darcy's emotion and, ironically, fixes his thoughts on her "more and more cheerfully."
Miss Bingley's Final Humiliation
After the visitors depart, Miss Bingley criticizes Elizabeth's appearance to Georgiana, who refuses to join in, having been won over by her brother's high opinion. When Darcy returns, Miss Bingley tells him Elizabeth looks "brown and coarse," but he coolly replies she is merely tanned from summer travel. She escalates her attack -- Elizabeth's face is too thin, her complexion dull, her features plain, her eyes "sharp and shrewish." Darcy endures in silence until Miss Bingley reminds him he once called Elizabeth's mother a wit. He responds devastatingly: "that was only when I first saw her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance." He walks away, leaving Miss Bingley with the bitter satisfaction of having forced a declaration that pains only herself. The chapter closes with Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner discussing everything about the visit except the one person who most occupied their thoughts.