If gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection, Elizabeth’s change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty. But if otherwise – if regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or unnatural, in comparison of what is so often described as arising on a first interview with its object, and even before two words have been exchanged, nothing can be said in her defence, except that she had given somewhat of a trial to the latter method in her partiality for Wickham, and that its ill success might, perhaps, authorise her to seek the other less interesting mode of attachment. Be that as it may, she saw him go with regret.

– Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 46. Here Austen discusses how Elizabeth’s love for Darcy has grown and evolved. Two ways that she could fall in love are described: love built on a foundation of gratitude and esteem, and love at first sight. Elizabeth has tried the second way with Wickham and admits that it has had no success. But Elizabeth’s affection for Darcy has followed the first path – a "less interesting mode of attachment" – and is built on the gratitude and admiration she feels from getting to know Darcy. This passage speaks to the theme of first impressions. It examines the way people can sometimes misread and misunderstand others by hastily making up their minds based on first impressions – like Elizabeth does. When the novel was originally written in 1796-1797 it was titled First Impressions. That was changed to Pride and Prejudice when it was first published in 1813.