( before him is a comedy. if this scene were set on a stage, the audience would erupt in a paroxysm of hysterics with the punchline being god almighty himself making an appearance to overshadow everyone's accomplishments. alas, it is not appropriate to deem it a comedy when friends and feelings are in it. atticus wishes to laugh; indeed, he is trying not to and succeeds by placing his hand over his mouth. any reaction would only cause further mortification. so what does he think then? he shall call the scene before him a tragicomedy.
when mrs. wickham sets her sights on him, atticus is already moving to stand, and just as she finishes speaking, he steps before her and bows. the brief time between standing and meeting mrs. wickham calms him even as the tension in the room builds. each member of the party is frozen in their seat, either from discomfort or a great deal of restraint, and none know how mr. cartwright will respond. mrs. wickham's behaviour is an embarrassment to the family.
but atticus has known people like her before. he compares them to a fire: they consume all the oxygen in a room to make themselves greater. all they seek is attention and will burn everything to attain it. however, like a fire, the way to extinguish them is by withholding oxygen. without attention, they move on. mrs. bennet is the sort but at least she can be tempered by her husband on occasion. and perhaps it is because of her that mrs. wickham is the same. or perhaps it's merely her nature. in any case, atticus cannot place the entire blame on the bennet father or daughters as they do not act the same. mrs. wickham and her mother appear to be the outliers. )
Mrs. Wickham. ( he does appear the embodiment of a gentleman with his shoulders set back and his posture straight as he stares down at her. nothing in his voice or countenance betrays approval or censure. he speaks to her as if she is a servant or a stranger on the street — less than as he usually smiles at servants and strangers. ) I have heard much about you. I wish you and your unborn child health and happiness.
( the uneasiness in the room slackens from mr. cartwright's magnanimity. but it flares up again as voices filter from the foyer through the cracked door; one familiar to atticus and one not, but both harsh in tone. it must be mr. darcy speaking to mr. wickham. as much as atticus thinks he should make a great display by congratulating miss kitty on her engagement, he decides he should return to miss darcy and miss bennet before either of the wickhams set their attention on them. at least miss kitty is engaged and won't be harassed for not being so. )
Pardon me. ( he bows and promptly returns to the sofa and the conversation as if there wasn't an interruption at all. he looks at miss darcy and now gives himself permission to smile. ) And your aunt is Mr. Collins' patroness? What a coincidence.
( if he can help it, atticus does not intend to give any further oxygen to the fire. )
no subject
when mrs. wickham sets her sights on him, atticus is already moving to stand, and just as she finishes speaking, he steps before her and bows. the brief time between standing and meeting mrs. wickham calms him even as the tension in the room builds. each member of the party is frozen in their seat, either from discomfort or a great deal of restraint, and none know how mr. cartwright will respond. mrs. wickham's behaviour is an embarrassment to the family.
but atticus has known people like her before. he compares them to a fire: they consume all the oxygen in a room to make themselves greater. all they seek is attention and will burn everything to attain it. however, like a fire, the way to extinguish them is by withholding oxygen. without attention, they move on. mrs. bennet is the sort but at least she can be tempered by her husband on occasion. and perhaps it is because of her that mrs. wickham is the same. or perhaps it's merely her nature. in any case, atticus cannot place the entire blame on the bennet father or daughters as they do not act the same. mrs. wickham and her mother appear to be the outliers. )
Mrs. Wickham. ( he does appear the embodiment of a gentleman with his shoulders set back and his posture straight as he stares down at her. nothing in his voice or countenance betrays approval or censure. he speaks to her as if she is a servant or a stranger on the street — less than as he usually smiles at servants and strangers. ) I have heard much about you. I wish you and your unborn child health and happiness.
( the uneasiness in the room slackens from mr. cartwright's magnanimity. but it flares up again as voices filter from the foyer through the cracked door; one familiar to atticus and one not, but both harsh in tone. it must be mr. darcy speaking to mr. wickham. as much as atticus thinks he should make a great display by congratulating miss kitty on her engagement, he decides he should return to miss darcy and miss bennet before either of the wickhams set their attention on them. at least miss kitty is engaged and won't be harassed for not being so. )
Pardon me. ( he bows and promptly returns to the sofa and the conversation as if there wasn't an interruption at all. he looks at miss darcy and now gives himself permission to smile. ) And your aunt is Mr. Collins' patroness? What a coincidence.
( if he can help it, atticus does not intend to give any further oxygen to the fire. )