Reader’s Reflections: The speed with which Mrs. Bennett can switch from not being able to bear the mention of a man’s name, to holding that same man high in her good graces; is overtaken only by the speed with which Mr. Collins can transfer his sights from Daughter #1 to Daughter #2 when he hears that the first is off the table. I guess it truly is a business transaction for both of them. Collins continues to strike the enigmatic balance between offering over-the-top praise and apologies for his very existence to each new lady he meets, and monopolizing every conversation with the tooting of his own horn. It’s hard to tell if he’s seeking a wife so that he’ll have a constant companion to whom to brag; or so that he can have an additional prize to show off to others; or so that he can please his patroness by taking her marital advice. Hormones are abuzz throughout the air as Kitty & Lydia search frantically for officers; Jane sees Mr. Bingley riding down the street as he’s actually en route to her house; and the surprise meeting of Darcy and the handsome newcomer betrays that there is bad blood between the two. Ah, the dashing Mr. Wickham. Even the sharp Elizabeth Bennett cannot resist his handsome face, athletic body, lovely manners and honorable behavior – especially now that he’s in uniform! Nothing unites like a common enemy, and they enjoy sharing in some Darcy-bashing.