[ On the carriage ride home, Mary stares off at nothing as she revisits what she's said. How strange it is to have desired attention all her life and yet when the focus is placed upon her she wilts like a flower in a summer drought, unable to truly thrive. Had she not prepared to be looked at, talked about, thought of by others? She cannot understand why she floundered so considerably.
Mrs. Gardiner notices Mary's demeanor and leans forward a little to place her hand over her niece's asking if all is well. Mary starts at the contact, nodding immediately. ]
Yes. Quite well.
[ Kitty watches the interaction with a thoughtful expression. "Perhaps Mary is unused to the crowds. Indeed, neither of us are used to such a press of people as can be found here." Mary quietly agrees though she's not sure that's entirely it. It has something to do with Mr. Cartwright himself. Why was she so startled to see him and react as she did? It's as if when the two are removed from the location where they met and conversed, it seems like the first time all over again. At home they had... privacy of a kind. Here she felt like an underdressed country girl talking to a handsome man in a fancy waistcoat. And why exactly did she care what others thought? She has no answer to that, but it feels like regression.
Her sleep that night is equally troubled as she's not quite sure why she can't be herself in London. Mary doesn't understand why she cares once more. Her sleep is interrupted by tossing and turning and the next day she certainly appears as though she's not had enough sleep. The day passes slowly as she entertains her cousins while Kitty and their aunt go out and their uncle goes to work. But the time of Mr. Cartwright's arrival, Mary's dark circles have cleared up and she is ready to meet with him. However, to her surprise her uncle arrives with a stranger for tea, who expressed interest in meeting his employer's nieces. A Mr. Hickinbottom bows low before the Bennet sisters and pays them every due respect before seating himself and immediately starting a conversation. There is the standard "How long have you been in London?" and "How long do you plan to stay in London?" and once Kitty reveals their purpose for being there - namely, her upcoming nuptials - his eyes suddenly slide away from Kitty to Mary, where they remain throughout tea.
Mary, however, is too preoccupied with glancing Mr. Cartwright's way to notice. She ventures to ask him: ]
I hope you have had a productive day, sir?
[ Whether attending to business or relaxing at a gentleman's club, men always seem to consider themselves productive. ]
no subject
Mrs. Gardiner notices Mary's demeanor and leans forward a little to place her hand over her niece's asking if all is well. Mary starts at the contact, nodding immediately. ]
Yes. Quite well.
[ Kitty watches the interaction with a thoughtful expression. "Perhaps Mary is unused to the crowds. Indeed, neither of us are used to such a press of people as can be found here." Mary quietly agrees though she's not sure that's entirely it. It has something to do with Mr. Cartwright himself. Why was she so startled to see him and react as she did? It's as if when the two are removed from the location where they met and conversed, it seems like the first time all over again. At home they had... privacy of a kind. Here she felt like an underdressed country girl talking to a handsome man in a fancy waistcoat. And why exactly did she care what others thought? She has no answer to that, but it feels like regression.
Her sleep that night is equally troubled as she's not quite sure why she can't be herself in London. Mary doesn't understand why she cares once more. Her sleep is interrupted by tossing and turning and the next day she certainly appears as though she's not had enough sleep. The day passes slowly as she entertains her cousins while Kitty and their aunt go out and their uncle goes to work. But the time of Mr. Cartwright's arrival, Mary's dark circles have cleared up and she is ready to meet with him. However, to her surprise her uncle arrives with a stranger for tea, who expressed interest in meeting his employer's nieces. A Mr. Hickinbottom bows low before the Bennet sisters and pays them every due respect before seating himself and immediately starting a conversation. There is the standard "How long have you been in London?" and "How long do you plan to stay in London?" and once Kitty reveals their purpose for being there - namely, her upcoming nuptials - his eyes suddenly slide away from Kitty to Mary, where they remain throughout tea.
Mary, however, is too preoccupied with glancing Mr. Cartwright's way to notice. She ventures to ask him: ]
I hope you have had a productive day, sir?
[ Whether attending to business or relaxing at a gentleman's club, men always seem to consider themselves productive. ]