Lucky footman, to be in the right place at the right time, point in the right direction, and get a raise
.
I like how often Darcy's thoughts mirror Elizabeth's ("certainly she had not met me with composure," etc.). I also really like that his pride hasn't just magically vanished, that he has to (and does) check himself every so often. So often we writers make him change too easily, or have an outside source (Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam, or whoever) correct him throughout the process, both of which undercut the labor he puts into addressing his faults.
It's painful to see him so hopeful, knowing what is coming...