"Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence"(165).
Upon Lady Catherine De Bourgh's meeting of Elizabeth, she tries to find out everything she can about her. When asked her age, Elizabeth responds: "With three younger sisters grown up, [...] your ladyship can hardly expect me to own it"(165). Lady Catherine is put off by Elizabeth's wit in avoiding a straight answer. Lady Catherine wanted to examine this new stranger to her, Elizabeth, as she does to all strangers. She asks questions and expects to receive answers. Lady Catherine delivers "her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgement controverted"(163). Although Elizabeth did not directly go against the judgement of Lady Catherine, she did hinder Lady Catherine's search for expected answers. The "air [of Lady Catherine] was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence: but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her self-importance"(162). To put it simply, Lady Catherine always got her way from those who held an inferior status to her, which was in fact everyone. Elizabeth's defiance was a first, and certainly a shock to Lady Catherine.
In the conversation between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy while Elizabeth was playing the piano, what was the excuse that Mr. Darcy gave upon his lack of introducing himself to strangers?
a.) he claims that there is never anyone around to introduce him
b.) he has given up on meeting new people
c.) he is not skilled at being outgoing or meeting new people
d.) he claims that Elizabeth is lying as he always finds pleasure in meeting new people
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