joints of meat

[vil]

Dear teachers and native English speakers,
Excuse my barbarian ignorance. I couldn't grasp the meaning of the phrase "that Mrs.Collins joints of meat were too large for her family." from the following excerpt of the novel "Pride and Prejudice": "She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture ; or detected the housemaids in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seeming to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Collins joints of meat were too large for her family."

That is beyond my comprehension.

Would you help me?

V.

[kimberly07]

Although I'm not a native speaker, I'd like to offer my interpretation of this passage.
I believe that Lady Catherine de Bourgh, being a busybody, liked finding faults with Charlotte's domestic arrangements. She accepted refreshments (a meal) only to proclaim that the joint of meat (a piece of meat with a bone?) was too large for the family, implying that Charlotte was a spendthrift.

[vil]

Hi Kimberly,

I appreciate the merits of your interpretation. I wonder at the great speed and the striking cogency yours explanation.

Thank you for your efficiency.

V

[kimberly07]

Vil
You're welcome