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Miss Bennett is soon swept into a dance of introductions and pleasantries. Mr. Wickham expresses his hope that their shared memory of a past dance will rekindle an acquaintance that flourishes amidst tumultuous social allegiances. The evening thickens as distinctions between earnestness and playful frivolity blur.
The Clergyman's Proclamation
The presence of Mr. Collins, a clergyman with inflated self-importance, adds a layer of eccentricity to the gathering. His proclamations about matrimony echo the themes of propriety and expectation circulating the room, and he proclaims with fervor that every clergyman should set an example for matrimony. His awkwardness and clumsy flirtation with Miss Bennett is tempered by a good-hearted yet misguided intention to win her favor.