she visits her aunt and uncle

• Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

• Literature Notes
• Chapters 43-46 (Volume III, 1-4)
• Book Summary
• About Pride and Prejudice
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Chapters 1-5
• Chapters 6-9
• Chapters 10-14
• Chapters 15-18
• Chapters 19-23
• Chapters 24-27 (Volume II, 1-4)
• Chapters 28-32 (Volume II, 5-9)
• Chapters 33-36 (Volume II, 10-13)
• Chapters 37-42 (Volume II, 14-19)
• Chapters 47-50 (Volume III, 5-8)
• Chapters 51-55 (Volume III, 9-13)
• Chapters 56-61 (Volume III, 14-20)
• Character Analysis
• Elizabeth Bennet
• Fitzwilliam Darcy
• Jane Bennet
• Mrs. Bennet
• Lydia Bennet
• George Wickham
• Charlotte Lucas (later Collins)
• Character Map
• Jane Austen Biography
• Critical Essays
• Women's Roles in Early Nineteenth-Century Britain
• Money in Pride and Prejudice
• Full Glossary for Pride and Prejudice
• Essay Questions
• Practice Projects
• Cite this Literature Note

Summary and Analysis Chapters 43-46 (Volume III, 1-4)

Elizabeth and the Gardiners arrive at the Pemberley estate and are impressed by the beauty of the house and the grounds. As they tour the house, the housekeeper praises Darcy, saying "He is the best landlord, and the best master that ever lived." The housekeeper also confirms that Darcy isn't presently at home, but she adds that he is expected the following day. As the Gardiners and Elizabeth walk around Pemberley's grounds, however, Darcy suddenly appears. Mortified to have him find her there, Elizabeth's emotions are further confused by his courteous and gentle tone. He asks her if he can introduce his sister to her soon, and Elizabeth agrees, wondering what this show of interest and pleasant behavior can mean. As she and her relatives drive away, Elizabeth mulls over the encounter while her aunt and uncle discuss Darcy's surprising geniality.

Darcy calls on Elizabeth and the Gardiners the next day with his sister and Bingley. Elizabeth immediately notices that Miss Darcy is not proud, as Wickham had asserted, but painfully shy. Elizabeth also watches Bingley and Miss Darcy interact and is pleased to see no signs of a romantic attachment between them, as was implied by Miss Bingley. In fact, Elizabeth believes she detects several wistful references to Jane in his conversation. As Elizabeth nervously tries to please everyone with her manners and speech, the Gardiners observe both her and Darcy. From their observations, they are sure that Darcy is very much in love with Elizabeth, but they are uncertain about Elizabeth's feelings for him. Elizabeth is also uncertain, and lays awake that night trying to determine what her feelings for Darcy are.

The next day, the Gardiners and Elizabeth go to Pemberley at Darcy's and Miss Darcy's invitation. Mr. Gardiner goes fishing with the men while Mrs. and Gardiner and Elizabeth join Georgiana, Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst, and Georgiana's companion at the house. Although Miss Bingley treats Elizabeth coldly, Elizabeth attributes her behavior to jealousy. When Darcy returns from fishing, his behavior shows that he is clearly attracted to Elizabeth. Miss Bingley attempts to allude to Elizabeth's former attachment to Wickham and to make her look foolish by bringing up her sisters' attachment to the regiment in Meryton, but Elizabeth's calm response makes Miss Bingley look ill-natured instead. After Elizabeth and the Gardiners leave, Miss Bingley tries again to demean Elizabeth, this time by criticizing her appearance. She is deflated, however, by Darcy's remark that Elizabeth is "one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance."

Elizabeth soon receives two letters from Jane that shatter any hopes she has of further exploring her relationship with Darcy. In the letters, Jane tells her that Lydia has run away with Wickham from Brighton and that they probably have not gotten married. They were spotted headed toward London, so Mr. Bennet is going there to search for them and Jane asks that Mr. Gardiner join Mr. Bennet in London to assist in the search.

Dismayed by the news, Elizabeth rushes to get her uncle, but is met there by Darcy. Troubled by Elizabeth's agitation, Darcy sends for her uncle and stays with her to try to calm her down. Overcome by what she has learned, Elizabeth begins to cry and tells Darcy what has happened. He expresses concern and worries that his own silence regarding Wickham is, in part, responsible for the present situation. Thinking he is only in the way, Darcy leaves. Elizabeth realizes that she loves him, but fears that the family scandal will ruin her chances of his wanting her for a wife. The Gardiners soon arrive, and they and Elizabeth leave immediately for Longbourn.

The changes in Elizabeth's feelings for Darcy that began earlier upon reading his letter continue in this section. Elizabeth began the novel disliking Darcy, and her prejudice caused her to find more and more reasons to dislike him. However, after she realized the truth about her prejudices, she opened herself up to discovering Darcy's true character. By visiting Darcy's home, Elizabeth is finally able to see Darcy for what he is. Darcy has stated that he is uncomfortable with strangers, and the only settings Elizabeth had seen him in were places that were not his home. At Pemberley, Elizabeth not only views Darcy in the environment in which he is most comfortable, but she also observes his treatment of those things and people that are under his care — his estate, his servants, and his sister. She now realizes that he is a fine brother and a landlord with a great sense of responsibility to his servants and tenants — admirable characteristics that she had previously failed to detect. Such discoveries cause Elizabeth to feel "a more gentle sensation" towards Darcy "than she had ever felt in the height of their acquaintance."

However, Darcy's dramatically altered behavior toward Elizabeth and her relatives cannot be completely attributed to his being comfortable at home. His friendly manners — especially toward the Gardiners — suggest that the confrontation between Elizabeth and himself affected him just as strongly as it did her. The magnitude of Darcy's change can be seen in his reaction to the news of Lydia's elopement. Rather than being appalled at the disgraceful conduct of Elizabeth's sister, Darcy displays tenderness over Elizabeth's feelings and well-being.

Darcy feels a sense of responsibility for the situation, as does Elizabeth. The reader begins to see here how similar these two people are in their willingness to be held accountable for their actions and their desire to protect their families. Additionally, their responses to the crisis also demonstrate how much they care for one another. For Elizabeth, although the news about Lydia is shocking and disgraceful, she shares it with Darcy, showing that she trusts him. Elizabeth also tells Darcy that she should have revealed Wickham's true nature to her family, letting him know that she believed his letter and has recognized that she was wrong when she accused him of treating Wickham badly.

Meanwhile, Darcy feels that he should have publicly dishonored Wickham when Wickham tried to elope with his sister, but his family pride prevented it. Darcy realizes that his reluctance to disgrace Wickham over his sister's near-mistake has resulted in Wickham ruining the reputation of another young woman, as well as the reputation of her family. Consequently, although Elizabeth believes that this elopement is a disgrace on her family, Darcy feels that the disgrace is on himself, a result of his earlier pride for not exposing Wickham's untrustworthiness. Even though Elizabeth has learned to love Darcy, she still obviously does not really know him, for she projects her own sense of shame onto him and believes that he will want nothing more to do with her.

perturbation something that perturbs; disturbance.

adorned decorated; ornamented.

aspect the appearance of a thing as seen from a specific point; view.

intimation a hint; indirect suggestion.

affable gentle and kindly.

lobby a hall or large anteroom.

consigned put in the care of another; entrusted.

discrimination perception.

hanging woods a thick growth of trees on the side of a hill.

glen a narrow, secluded valley.

coppice-wood a thicket of small trees or shrubs.

acceded gave assent; gave in; agreed.

embargo any restriction or restraint.

construction an explanation or interpretation.

environs surrounding area; vicinity.

curricle a light, two-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses side by side.

livery an identifying uniform such as was formerly worn by feudal retainers or is now worn by servants or those in some particular group or trade.

acute keen or quick of mind; shrewd.

untinctured not colored or tinged with some substance or quality.

complaisance willingness to please; disposition to be obliging and agreeable; affability.

petulance impatience or irritability, especially over a petty annoyance; peevishness.

acrimony bitterness or harshness of temper, manner, or speech; asperity.

ardent warm or intense in feeling; passionate.

expedient useful for effecting a desired result; suited to the circumstances or the occasion; advantageous; convenient.

saloon any large room or hall designed for receptions or exhibitions.

brevity the quality of being concise; terseness.

post a position, job, or duty to which a person is assigned or appointed.

nettled irritated; annoyed; vexed.

direction address.

ill badly; wrongly; improperly; imperfectly.

afforded to give; furnish.

own to admit; recognize; acknowledge.

Gretna Green a border village in Scotland, where, formerly, many eloping English couples went to be married.

exigence a situation calling for immediate action or attention.

fixed firmly placed or attached; not movable.

palliation alessening of the pain or severity of something without actually curing it; alleviation; easing.

infamy very bad reputation; notoriety; disgrace; dishonor.

actuated put into action or motion.

Previous Chapters 37-42 (Volume II, 14-19)

Next Chapters 47-50 (Volume III, 5-8)

Touring the peaks in the footsteps of Jane Austen's Lizzie Bennet

Jane Austen knew the Peak District and the journey of Ms. Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice illustrates that brilliantly.

There are  two famous shots in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice . One involves the then-unknown Colin Firth, a wet chemise, breeches, and riding boots. The other is far more evocative, when Jennifer Ehle, as Elizabeth Bennet, stands on the great rocks of what is now the Peak District National Park, contemplating the prospect of an awkward visit the next day.

It should have been so easy: A trip to the Lake District with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Lizzie can’t wait. When business prevents her uncle from traveling so far north, however, they end up in the Derbyshire Peaks instead. Lizzie travels, desperate to avoid Mr. Darcy, and ends up in the Peak District location of his country estate, Pemberley.

DANA HUNTLEY

Jane Austen knew the Peak District. Pemberley might be fictitious, as is Lambton, the estate village, but the other places the Pride and Prejudice party visits are real enough, making following in Lizzie’s footsteps a tantalizing possibility. 

“It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire, nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay; Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth, Birmingham, &c. are sufficiently known,” writes Austen.

• The life and times of "Emma" author Jane Austen
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And to some extent they still are. Oxford’s dreaming spires are as much on the tourist trail today as they have been since medieval times. The great castle at Warwick might not have had today’s commercial vision, but its stout walls, solid turrets and sumptuous interiors are essentially the same as Austen would have known them. The massive walls of Kenilworth Castle were romantic ruins for a good 150 years before Lizzie wanders their outlines.

Granted, Birmingham comes as a bit of a surprise on Jane Austen’s list of must-sees. While it might not seem much of a tourist attraction now, the city’s steam-fuelled blast furnaces, mechanized cotton mills and chemical factories were wonders of the Industrial Age to the curious Georgian traveler.

At first sight, Blenheim might also fit the sufficiently known category. But viewed through the eyes of an early 19th-century visitor a different image emerges. The Bennets are gentry, but not the high-born, upper-crust who would have been welcomed as guests. Lizzie arrived, like we do today, as a tourist. Walking up those famous golden-stone steps, the palace’s sheer splendor, massive columns and very finest of fine art are spectacular, but also somehow intimidating.

There is no evidence Austen was inspired to base Mr. Darcy’s terrifying relative Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s “Rosings” on Blenheim, but the magnificence of that banqueting table and the opulence of the ceiling above it is enough to make even Austen heroines take a deep breath. Some of Blenheim’s delightful moments are to be found in its more intimate spaces. The exquisitely-painted Indian Room’s glass doors look across the formal gardens, conjuring lazy afternoon teas for visiting ladies. The murals arrived in 1820, so Lizzie would have just missed them; the room was called the Stone Gallery in her day. Nibbling a finger sandwich and sipping a cup of Assam at one of their afternoon teas, though, it’s easy to dream Jane Austen might have tasted something similar.

The terraced gardens of Blenheim Palace gleam much as they did in Jane Austen’s day.

The cable car  operator called the day “murk-some.” The day I visited, Matlock’s Heights of Abraham (named for the scene of Wolfe’s Battle of Quebec) were so shrouded in wet, white fog there was no view Whatsoever. Inclemency notwithstanding, by the early 19th century Matlock’s views were a major draw. The Great Rutland Cavern was opened to the public in 1810, three years before Pride and Prejudice was published. Doughty travelers were lowered in buckets into what was a working lead mine, frocks, bonnets and all for a penny. It was another penny if you wanted to go up again, though this vital information was not advertised on the way down. There’s a walk-in entrance now.

On a rare sunny day, Sandra overlooks the prospect of Dovedale and the Peaks.

As every visitor to Derbyshire knows, the weather changes by the hour. The next day the sun was shining, the rivers sparkling and the blue skies above Dovedale warm and inviting. It’s easy to see why Elizabeth and her relatives fell in love with the soft, rolling hills tumbling into the two-mile valley embracing the river Dove. The mellow dry-stone walls, spring greenery, and woolly white lambs are enchanting.

Many scholars argue that Bakewell, four miles from Chatsworth House, was the inspiration for the village of Lambton where Elizabeth stays before her visit to Pemberley. The town remains compact, quaint and, apart from the constant traffic, not unlike Jane Austen would have known it, with tiny courtyards, meandering alleys, and several bakeries, each claiming to be the one and only home of the original Bakewell pudding. Elizabeth wouldn’t have tasted the delights of the delicate almond pastry invented in 1820, but I was entranced to find a ribbon shop in a pink, half-timbered courtyard that would have kept Lizzie’s sisters Kitty and Lydia in enough lace to drive Mr. Bennet to distraction.

“I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley,” quips Elizabeth when her sister asks when she first loved Mr. Darcy. And it’s easy to imagine how she might have felt when you first glimpse Chatsworth House in all its magnificence. It’s widely agreed Austen had Chatsworth in mind when inventing Pemberley: “neither gaudy nor uselessly fine.” Like Elizabeth, we can tour parts of the house “open to a general inspection,” pausing, as she did, “to enjoy its prospect.”

“And of this place,” thought she, “I might have been mistress.”

Finally, the peaks . Bleak on the sunniest day, their stark beauty is captivating and awesome in equal measures. In a moment of flippancy, I suggested to our esteemed editor that I emulate Lizzie’s famous BBC shot, digging out the clothes I wore for the Regency Ball a few years ago to find out what it might have been like to visit a natural wonder the way our ancestors might have done. Of course, he called my bluff.

Elizabeth Bennet would have worn thin, kid-leather boots, flimsy muslin dresses and short cotton spencer and fine wool shawl to clamber over the millennia-smoothed rocks piled together by the melting of ice ages. I attempted similar. If I learned anything from the experience—wind, cold, bursts of rain, sudden rays of sun—it was to admire the hardiness of our 19th-century forebears determined to enjoy the sights of England in spite of their clothes. But gosh, the Derbyshire Peaks are inspiring, no matter what period you are visiting them in, and however you might be dressed. 

Catch the details

PEAK DISTRICT: For information on the Peak District visit www.visitpeakdistrict.com

BLENHEIM PALACE: Afternoon Tea is served each day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., £19.95. Booking is essential. www.blenheimpalace.com.

CHATSWORTH HOUSE: Visit www.chatsworth.org .

* Originally published in 2015.

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Structurally, how does elizabeth's vist with her aunt, uncle, and sister fit into the narrative.

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Piblings & Niblings: Do You Know These Words For Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, & Nephews?

• Aunt And Uncle
• Gender-Neutral And Nonbinary Terms
• Niece, Nephew, And Nibling

by Min Straussman

For many of us, our parents’ siblings are a big part of our life—from providing love and support to, let’s be honest, spoiling us. National Aunts and Uncles Day on July 26 is a time to honor and show our appreciation for these family members (and not just because they let us do the stuff our parents wouldn’t). But, perhaps because they’re so under-appreciated, there isn’t a common, single term to refer to them all at once.

Think about it: we can refer to moms and dads as parents and brothers and sisters as siblings . Each word can also be used in the singular to refer to such a relative without specifying their gender—which is also the case for cousin . But what about aunts and uncles—or their counterparts, nieces and nephews?

Well, it turns out there are some terms we can use to refer to these important relatives when we’re talking about more than one. Not only that, these terms are great examples of gender-neutral and gender-inclusive language that can make it easier to refer to and address the relatives we love—regardless of their gender.

Aunt and uncle

You’re familiar with the terms aunt and uncle , but do you know where they come from? The word aunt ultimately comes from the Latin amita , meaning “father’s sister.” In modern use, aunt can refer to the sister of one’s parent or to the female partner of a parent’s sibling (your mom’s sister’s wife, for example). The word uncle is the male equivalent, referring to the brother of one’s parent or the male partner of a parent’s sibling (your dad’s sister’s husband, for example). It ultimately comes from the Latin avunculus , meaning “mother’s brother.”

If that Latin root looks familiar, it might be because you’ve heard the adjective avuncular . It literally means “of or relating to an uncle,” but we most commonly use it in a figurative way to describe someone, usually a man, as “kind, patient, and generous, especially to younger people—like a good uncle is.” The less commonly known adjective materteral is specifically used to describe things relating to a maternal aunt (the sister of one’s mother).

Many languages have specific words for aunts or uncles depending on what side of the family they come from. Old English, for example, had two words for uncle: fædera , for the paternal uncle, and ēam , for the maternal uncle. In Swedish, the word for a paternal uncle is farbror (“father’s brother”) and the word for a maternal uncle is morbror (“mother’s brother”). Similar distinctions exist in many other languages, including Tamil and Ukrainian.

Gender-neutral and nonbinary terms for aunt and uncle

When it comes to referring to a mixed group of aunts and uncles (like we can do with parents or siblings when referring to those relatives), the language is far from settled. That said, one term that has become increasingly popular is pibling . Pibling can refer to either an aunt or an uncle and is modeled on sibling , blended with the P from parent . For example:

• My piblings Alex, Jo, and Alice took me to the baseball game last week.

Pibling can also be used as a gender-neutral or nonbinary term to refer to the sibling of a parent regardless of their gender identity. There are also other gender-neutral or nonbinary terms for aunt and uncle that some people use or have proposed, including:

• titi : modeled on terms for aunt and uncle in Spanish ( tía and tío )
• zizi : modeled on terms for aunt and uncle in Italian ( zia and zio )
• bibi : modeled on titi and zizi , with the B from nonbinary (which is often abbreviated as nb )
• nini : similarly modeled on titi and zizi , with the N from nonbinary

Read about the meaning and importance of the term nonbinary .

Some terms are used by those who identify as gender-fluid or in other ways, including:

• auncle [ ahn-k uh l ]: a combination of aunt and uncle
• unty/untie : a combination of uncle and aunty/auntie

When it comes to using these words, the key is, as always, respect. Use the term your relative prefers. If you’re considering what term to use for yourself, this resource from the organization known as A Gender Agenda lists several options.

Niece, nephew, and nibling

The terms for niece and nephew are also gendered in the way that aunt and uncle are. Niece ultimately comes from the Latin neptis , meaning “granddaughter.” Of course, in English a niece is not a granddaughter—she’s “the daughter of one’s sibling.” Nephew (“the son of one’s sibling”) ultimately comes from the Latin nepōs , meaning “nephew, grandson.”

The linguist Samuel Martin is credited with coining the gender-neutral nibling in the 1950s. Nibling , like pibling , is modeled on sibling , with the addition of the letter N from niece and nephew .

Other proposed nonbinary or gender-inclusive terms for niece and nephew include:

• niephling : a combination of niece , nephew , and sibling
• neiph/nephiece/niephew : combinations of niece and nephew
• chibling : a combination of child and sibling
• sibkid : a shortening of sibling’s kid

Gender-neutral and gender-inclusive terminology for aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews is relatively new and continues to evolve. If none of the terms mentioned here suit you (or your relative), there is always an option to create your own, just like we do with other kinship terms. For example, rather than use traditional terms like Grandma or Grandpa , some grandparents prefer to create their own titles, like Pipp or Birdy . The same creativity can be used to create your own alternative terms for aunt , uncle , niece , and nephew . The word you come up with might even become the one that everyone starts to use.

Min Straussman is a freelance writer and educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A frequent contributor to Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, his work has also appeared in  Hey Alma ,  beestung , and other publications. He lives in Paris. For more by Min, read: Terms For Understanding The Diversity Of Jewish American Life

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Advice | Ask Amy: Reader offers update about ghosted uncle

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Dear Readers: Periodically, I publish “updates” to previous questions and answers published in this space. The following was published in 2018. The update follows the original Q&A.

Dear Amy: I grew up with two siblings — a brother and a sister. My brother, his wife and three children lived near our parents. My family and I (wife, two children) lived some distance away. We maintained contact through holiday cards and drop-by visits. Everything was cordial, if not particularly close. In hindsight, all direct interaction with my folks was always at our initiation.

Sadly, my brother passed away quite suddenly a few years ago. He was still a relatively young man. My SIL still maintained infrequent, cordial contact surrounding major events (kids’ graduating, my father’s passing), but that’s about it.

About a year ago my SIL married an old flame from college. She moved to his town, some distance away. We lost all contact. It was not just us — she and her children essentially “ghosted” their paternal grandparents, which was a source of great pain for my late father.

Strangely, last week I learned that my SIL and her daughter (same age as one of my children) had relocated again, six months ago. They are now living within 10 minutes’ drive from my house. I guess the previous relocation and marriage didn’t work out.

I am trying very hard to empathize with her: Perhaps they just suffered another in a series of terrible situations. But then, why pretend that my family and I don’t exist? Why not make any effort?

My wife is furious and is considering not giving any more graduation/wedding gifts to the nieces/nephew from this part of the “family.”

Your advice?

— Ghosted Uncle

Dear Uncle: I’m wondering why you are ghosting your nieces/nephew. Their father died suddenly. They were relocated to a faraway town for a marriage that turned out to be very short term. Then they moved again.

Were you ever a teenager? (I’m guessing at the ages of these kids.) Would you have initiated contact with your aunt and uncle if there had been sporadic contact in the years after a parent’s death — and then no contact for at least a year?

Your sister-in-law might be depressed, embarrassed, overwhelmed, introverted, or — just doesn’t like you very much. She has done a poor job of staying connected to her children’s relatives.

What’s your excuse?

You should reach out through whatever means you have. Express enthusiasm that they are so close, and offer to lend a hand/get together.

Your wife’s idea to punish these children by not celebrating their milestones is unkind. I hope you’ll both choose to behave differently in order to demonstrate to your nieces and nephew how to be in a family.

UPDATE: I wrote to you as “Ghosted Uncle,” regarding how my late brother’s wife and children had cut off contact with my family.

Things are largely unchanged. After your advice basically chastising me, I did try for a time. My efforts were never reciprocated or apparently appreciated.

In the past year I have returned two wedding invitations and a graduation announcement, as I really don’t want anything to do with them at this point.

At times I have been told by other family members that my former sister-in-law and her children have had a lot of personal issues; in recent years I have asked that they not share any of these statements with me.

So, not much is new. I will say that I would have appreciated you showing me a fraction of the empathy you extended to my former sister-in-law.

But as I said back then, I asked for your opinion, so I got it.

Dear R: Thank you for providing this update. Most of the updates I receive from readers suggest positive change, and while I am cheered by this, I suspect that most of the people who write to me have experiences closer to yours.

I also understand your criticism of my response, and appreciate your willingness to take me to task. My focus was on you trying to stay connected with the younger family members – not necessarily their mother.

However, I have to point out that even though you say your efforts have not been reciprocated or appreciated, these young family members have invited you to two weddings and a graduation. You have refused these invites.

These invitations are the essence of reciprocation. They are bids for connection, much like the ones you made. And now it is their turn to feel rejected.

(You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)

More in Advice

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The songwriter, guitarist and singer known as St. Vincent took her stage name from St. Vincent's Hospital in New York, where the poet Dylan Thomas died. Her seventh album, All Born Screaming , is out April 26. She spoke with Terry Gross about visiting her dad in prison, touring with her aunt and uncle as a teen, and the inspiration for her hit song "New York." For sponsor-free episodes of Fresh Air — and exclusive weekly bonus episodes, too — subscribe to Fresh Air+ via Apple Podcasts or at here .

White House issues photo of Biden meeting freed hostage Avigail Idan: ‘She’s remarkable’

T he White House on Thursday released a photo of US President Joe Biden holding freed Israeli-American hostage Avigail Idan, 4, during their meeting in Washington the previous day.

“She’s remarkable and recovering from unspeakable trauma,” Biden wrote in a social media post on Thursday, referring to Idan. “Our time together yesterday was a reminder of the work we have in front of us to secure the release of all remaining hostages” taken captive in the Hamas-led October 7 terror onslaught against Israel.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Wednesday the meeting was “also a reminder that there are still Americans and others being held hostage by Hamas, and we’re working day in and day out to ensure all of them also are able to get safely home to their loved ones.”

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Both of Avigail’s parents were murdered by terrorists who infiltrated Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the October 7 massacre in southern Israel. She was taken captive while hiding in her neighbor’s home.

Avigail, who turned four during her time in captivity, was released weeks later as part of a hostages-for-truce deal brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, which also included the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Biden spoke to her soon after her release in November. Wednesday’s meeting was one of mixed emotions for the president.

“Avigail and her two siblings had their parents killed on October 7, so they’re still living with the tragedy and the trauma of that. Avigail, of course, is living with the trauma of being held captive for many weeks,” Sullivan said. “But this was a moment of joy as well, because she was able to be returned safely to her family.”

Speaking to reporters on the hostage situation Thursday, a senior administration official said that Biden spent over an hour with Avigail and her family in the White House, letting the 4-year-old girl released in the last hostage deal in November play in the Oval Office and crawl through the door of the Resolute Desk like John F. Kennedy Jr. was seen doing as his father worked above him in an iconic 1963 photo.

As Avigail played, Biden talked with her aunt and uncle who have been raising her since her return. The president also updated the family on the ongoing efforts to release the remaining hostages.

Avigail’s aunt, Liz Hirsh Naftali, told Channel 12 news Thursday that Avigail “was very comfortable; she ate some M&Ms — the official White House M&Ms.”

During their meeting, Biden “asked if he could frame [the children’s] pictures and put them on the wall,” she added.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Biden said the meeting “went really well.”

“Her family sent me a note saying, as she was riding home, she said, You know, I love Joe Biden,” he said.

The US president said that during her visit, Idan swung on a swingset and “was playing around in the Oval Office.”

It is believed that 129 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during a weeklong truce in late November, and four hostages were released prior to that. Three hostages have been rescued by troops alive, and the bodies of 12 hostages have also been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the military.

The IDF has confirmed the deaths of 34 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.

One more person is listed as missing since October 7, and their fate is still unknown.

Hamas is also holding the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are both thought to be alive after entering the Strip of their own accord in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

The post White House issues photo of Biden meeting freed hostage Avigail Idan: ‘She’s remarkable’ appeared first on The Times of Israel .

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Australian woman charged with poisoning husband and his relatives with mushrooms appears in court

MELBOURNE, Australia — A woman accused of serving her ex-husband’s parents and an aunt poisonous mushrooms with lunch appeared in an Australian court on Monday charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder.

Erin Patterson, 49, appeared briefly in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court by video link from a Melbourne prison where she has been held since she was arrested in November last year.

Magistrate Tim Walsh said he would announce on May 7 whether Patterson will face a committal hearing in the same court in Morwell or in Melbourne. Morwell is a rural town near Patterson’s home about 150 kilometers (90 miles) east of Melbourne, the Victoria state capital.

Committal hearings determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to put charges before a jury in a Victorian Supreme Court trial.

It was Patterson’s second court appearance on the charges. She has yet to enter any pleas and has not applied to be released on bail.

She is accused of killing her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail Patterson’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66.

All three died in a hospital days after consuming a meal at Patterson’s home in July last year.

She is also accused of the attempted murder of her ex-husband, Simon Patterson, at that lunch and on three previous occasions dating back to 2021. Simon Patterson did not accept an invitation to attend the lunch.

She also is charged with the attempted murder of Wilkinson’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, 68.

Ian Wilkinson spent seven weeks in a hospital following the lunch.

Police say the symptoms of the four sickened family members were consistent with poisoning from wild Amanita phalloides, known as death cap mushrooms.

The potential maximum sentence in Victoria for murder is life imprisonment, and for attempted murder is 25 years in prison.

Patterson appeared in court on Monday wearing a blue prison sweater.

Walsh asked if Patterson could hear at the outset of the hearing, and she replied, “Yes, thank you.”

Her lawyer, Colin Mandy, said his client wanted the committal hearing held in Morwell, even if that meant a delay until next year.

“If it happens next year, then Ms. Patterson’s content to wait for that,” Mandy told the magistrate.

Mandy said she wanted the hearing to take place close to her home.

Defense lawyers have provided prosecutors with a list of anticipated witnesses to be called at the committal.

Mandy said he expected the hearing would last three weeks.

The Associated Press