[ Startled by the sudden burst of laughter, Mary's hand jolts towards her heart and the scone within is crushed to her afternoon gown. Between Mr. Cartwright's laughter and her father's attention being drawn towards it, she has a moment to set the crumbled food onto a plate and collect the crumbs from her lap. Embarrassment flushes her cheeks and she attempts to understand his meaning. Not that she doesn't know who Adonis is; of course she does! But she is unsure if he's being vain or speaking of his appearance in jest. If it's the former, she has some quotes on the harms of vanity she could recite. If it's the latter, well, she's a bit lost there. Having a ready wit is a trait that never passed down to her from her father. ]

You are quite harsh on your fellow Englishmen, sir.

[ It's all she can think to say before her gaze is distracted by another crumb she missed that she rushes to pluck off and set on the plate. If Lizzy were here she would have already parried his comment with a biting one of her own. But Mary is not Lizzy and has never wished to be Lizzy except in her darkest moments when she feel utterly alone, ugly and unnoticed. She swallows quickly and forces her thoughts away from such a twisting path of self-reflection. ]

Besides, a mind full of knowledge that is always ready to absorb more is worth far more than beauty could ever be.

[ That's what she keeps telling herself. Mr. Bennet — who has returned to his paper — snorts lightly to himself, knowing his daughter's mind is full of knowledge she doesn't know how to interpret. ]