"What does Mr. Darcy mean," she (Elizabeth) said to Charlotte, "by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?"
"That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer."
"But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him." Ch. 6, p. 24-25
In this quote Elizabeth is aware that someone is scrutinizing her, a reversal of situation because usually it is Lizzy who scrutinizes everyone else. She is nervous about losing the upper ground and of becoming the object of Mr. Darcy's satire, so she claims she must do what she does best--say something witty and impertinent--in order to assure that she will not drop rank from "satirizing observer" to "she-who-is-satirized." Elizabeth is used to being at the top of the witty scale, and to fall lower under the watchful eye of Mr. Darcy would be grave indeed. She is afraid of being satirized, but is she worthy/needy of it? Does she merely escape satire because she is clever enough to manipulate the situation in her favor? Does that make her immune to satire or just a good dodger?
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