[ The discussion settling on music is a delight to Mary, but as is so often the case, her expression hardly shows any of her feelings beyond the briefest hint of happiness in her eyes. ]
It is unfortunate indeed, but I am grateful to have heard you play many times.
[ Mr. Hickinbottom does not like this gratitude of hers directed towards another man when his plans to move ever upward currently hinge on securing her as quickly as possible. He tries to think up a way to steer the conversation away from Cartwright and on to Miss Bennet's own achievements with music, but before he can speak Mrs. Gardiner adds: "Perhaps someday we will have the pleasure." She nods to Mr. Cartwright, making it clear that she is offering to continue the acquaintance. He is certainly a little odd and perhaps lackadaisical, but he is a friend of her brother-in-law and her niece so there is no need to shy away from future encounters.
Finally Mr. Hickinbottom finds a brief moment to make his move. "I am sure that no one can lament what might have been when we have such an extraordinary performer before us here. Tell me, Miss Bennet, are you the favored performer of all your acquaintances in Meryton? I daresay everyone pales in comparison to you." He's laying it on quite thickly now, but he needs to sever this tie to Cartwright as soon as possible.
Mary is a little unsure how to respond to this. It's true that most in Meryton would probably proclaim her the most proficient in music by a wide margin. She was spoken of as the most accomplished girl as had always been her goal. But her shame at her performance during the Netherfield ball still sometimes hangs over her no matter how she tries to move past it. She was a different girl then with different goals. She put on airs though she hadn't realized it at the time and it was to her detriment. Choosing her words carefully, she replies: ]
I am thought of as accomplished, yes. I have performed a great many times but in recent months I have chosen to... be more selective as to who hears me perform.
[ There is no reason to speak on the state of Meryton and the way it treats those who they deem have behaved inappropriately. ]
But there are always young ladies who enjoy music and will perform. They are hardly bereft for having lost my performances.
[ "And everyone wanted you to perform jolly music so they could dance, which you hated to do," Kitty adds with a smile. In a way, that's true, for Mary always wished to play complicated pieces to amaze her audience, but all anyone wanted was to use her for their own fun. Now Mary wonders if she could have seen past the easy sheet music to actually absorb what she was playing to have enjoyed it to. Perhaps. After all, she enjoys the simple songs she plays for her cousins because of how they react.
As she considers these factors, Mr. Hickinbottom laments the people of Meryton the great loss of her musical abilities while again expressing how fortunate he - a great appreciator of music, you remember - is to have witnessed her playing. Mary snaps herself from her musings at the end of one of his raptures to find him looking at her expectantly. Oh. ]
I enjoy playing lively music for our cousins.
[ Which is going back to work off of what Kitty said in the hopes they were still talking about music for dancing when her mind started to wander. ]
no subject
It is unfortunate indeed, but I am grateful to have heard you play many times.
[ Mr. Hickinbottom does not like this gratitude of hers directed towards another man when his plans to move ever upward currently hinge on securing her as quickly as possible. He tries to think up a way to steer the conversation away from Cartwright and on to Miss Bennet's own achievements with music, but before he can speak Mrs. Gardiner adds: "Perhaps someday we will have the pleasure." She nods to Mr. Cartwright, making it clear that she is offering to continue the acquaintance. He is certainly a little odd and perhaps lackadaisical, but he is a friend of her brother-in-law and her niece so there is no need to shy away from future encounters.
Finally Mr. Hickinbottom finds a brief moment to make his move. "I am sure that no one can lament what might have been when we have such an extraordinary performer before us here. Tell me, Miss Bennet, are you the favored performer of all your acquaintances in Meryton? I daresay everyone pales in comparison to you." He's laying it on quite thickly now, but he needs to sever this tie to Cartwright as soon as possible.
Mary is a little unsure how to respond to this. It's true that most in Meryton would probably proclaim her the most proficient in music by a wide margin. She was spoken of as the most accomplished girl as had always been her goal. But her shame at her performance during the Netherfield ball still sometimes hangs over her no matter how she tries to move past it. She was a different girl then with different goals. She put on airs though she hadn't realized it at the time and it was to her detriment. Choosing her words carefully, she replies: ]
I am thought of as accomplished, yes. I have performed a great many times but in recent months I have chosen to... be more selective as to who hears me perform.
[ There is no reason to speak on the state of Meryton and the way it treats those who they deem have behaved inappropriately. ]
But there are always young ladies who enjoy music and will perform. They are hardly bereft for having lost my performances.
[ "And everyone wanted you to perform jolly music so they could dance, which you hated to do," Kitty adds with a smile. In a way, that's true, for Mary always wished to play complicated pieces to amaze her audience, but all anyone wanted was to use her for their own fun. Now Mary wonders if she could have seen past the easy sheet music to actually absorb what she was playing to have enjoyed it to. Perhaps. After all, she enjoys the simple songs she plays for her cousins because of how they react.
As she considers these factors, Mr. Hickinbottom laments the people of Meryton the great loss of her musical abilities while again expressing how fortunate he - a great appreciator of music, you remember - is to have witnessed her playing. Mary snaps herself from her musings at the end of one of his raptures to find him looking at her expectantly. Oh. ]
I enjoy playing lively music for our cousins.
[ Which is going back to work off of what Kitty said in the hopes they were still talking about music for dancing when her mind started to wander. ]