Dining with Jane

Our {formerly} mild-mannered Autumn

has turned from a blaze of glory

to a biting cold fury!

On Tuesday night, a power-outage

helped me to channel my inner

Jane Austen as I penned Wednesday's

post by candlelight.....

And I believe that she stayed with me 

yesterday as I set my autumn table

for Vintage Inspiration Fall Friday 

at sweet Debra's of Common Ground.

So please, step into my dining

room this cold and blustery 

autumn day, as Jane and I

welcome you with dining-parlour

passages from one of my favorites,

Pride and Prejudice.

When they repaired to the dining-room, 

Elizabeth eagerly watched to see whether 

Bingley would take the place, which, in all 

their former parties, had belonged to him, 

by her sister.

They followed her into the dining-parlour.

It was a large, well-proportioned room, 

handsomely fitted up. Elizabeth, after 

slightly surveying it, went to a window
to enjoy its prospect. 

Mr. Darcy was almost as far from her

as the table could divide them.  He was on one

side of her mother.  She knew how little

such a situation would give pleasure to either,

or make either appear to advantage.

Their party in the dining-room was large, 

for almost all the Lucases came to meet 

Maria and hear the news: and various were 

the subjects which occupied them.

His behaviour to her sister was such, 

during dinner time, as shewed an admiration

of her, which, though more guarded than formerly, 

persuaded Elizabeth, that if left wholly to himself, 

Jane's happiness, and his own, would be speedily secured.

"Well girls," said she, as soon as they were 

left to themselves, "What say you to the day? 

I think every thing has passed off uncommonly 

well, I assure you. The dinner was as well dressed 

as any I ever saw."

"The soup was fifty times better than 

what we had at the Lucases' last week; and 

even Mr. Darcy acknowledged, that the partridges 

were remarkably well done; and I suppose he

 has two or three French cooks at least."

"Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste 

and come into the dining-room, for there

is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you 

what it is. Make haste, and come down this moment."

Elizabeth had at first rather wondered

that Charlotte should not prefer the dining-parlour

for common use; it was a better sized room,

and had a more pleasant aspect.

"It has been a very agreeable day," 

said Miss Bennet to Elizabeth. 

"The party seemed so well selected, 

so suitable one with the other. 

I hope we may often meet again."

Elizabeth smiled.

I hope you enjoyed dining with me 

and Jane and that YOUR autumn day 

does not include a high of 38 degrees, 

like mine does!

I am also joining Friday Flowers

with  Laura,

dedicating these posies to

my muse, Jane Austen.

Imagine her delight

to still be inspiring and entertaining

so many of us around this world,

193 years after leaving it

for the next.

All images: Privet and Holly