Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 12

In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth

wrote the next morning to their mother, to beg that the carriage

might be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs.

Bennet, who had calculated on her daughters remaining at

Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exactly

finish Jane's week, could not bring herself to receive them with

pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at

least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get

home. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly

have the carriage before Tuesday; and in her postscript it was

added, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay

longer, she could spare them very well. Against staying longer,

however, Elizabeth was positively resolved--nor did she much

expect it would be asked; and fearful, on the contrary, as being

considered as intruding themselves needlessly long, she urged

Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately, and at

length it was settled that their original design of leaving

Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the request

made.

The communication excited many professions of concern; and

enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the

following day to work on Jane; and till the morrow their going

was deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had

proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of one sister

much exceeded her affection for the other.

The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were

to go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that

it would not be safe for her--that she was not enough recovered;

but Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right.

To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence--Elizabeth had been

at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he

liked--and Miss Bingley was uncivil to _her_, and more teasing

than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly

careful that no sign of admiration should _now_ escape him,

nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his

felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested,

his behaviour during the last day must have material weight in

confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely

spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and

though they were at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour,

he adhered most conscientiously to his book, and would not

even look at her.

On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable

to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth

increased at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane;

and when they parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure

it would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or

Netherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, she even shook

hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole party

in the liveliest of spirits.

They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother.

Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them very

wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would have

caught cold again. But their father, though very laconic in his

expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt

their importance in the family circle. The evening conversation,

when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation,

and almost all its sense by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth.

They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough-bass

and human nature; and had some extracts to admire, and some

new observations of threadbare morality to listen to. Catherine

and Lydia had information for them of a different sort. Much

had been done and much had been said in the regiment since the

preceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined lately

with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actually

been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married.