PRIDE & PREJUDICE - JANE AUSTEN CHAPTER NINE

Elizabeth passed the night in her sister's room. In the morning she answered the inquiries she received from Bingley and later to the ladies of the house.  A note to Longbourn was sent desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgement of Jane's situation. Mrs Bennet accompanied by her younger girls soon came after the breakfast.

Mrs Bennet found that her daughter's illness was not alarming.  Jane proposed that she may be carried home. But the apothecary was against such a course. Since Mrs Bennet wanted her daughter to remain in Netherfield she also  supported the apothecary.  After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss Bingley's appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughters went into the breakfast parlour.  Bingley hoped that Mrs Bennet Did not find her daughter worse than she expected.

"Indeed, I have, sir," Mrs Bennet, "She is too ill to be moved.  Mr Jones says that we must not think of moving her.  We must trespass a little longer on your kindness."

"Removed!" cried Bingley, "it must not be thought of.  My sister will not hear of her removal."

"You may depend upon it, Madam," said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, "that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she remains with us."

Mrs Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgement.

"I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with greatest patience in the world, which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with.  I often tell my other girls they are nothing to her.  You have a sweet room here, Mr Bingley, and a charming prospect over the gravel walk.  I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield.  You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease."

"Whatever I do is done in a hurry," replied he, "and if I resolve to quit Netherfield, I should be off in five minutes.  At present I am quite fixed here."

"Exactly," said Elizabeth.

"Lizzy," cried her mother, "remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home."

The conversation among the friends drifted to country town divide and Mrs Bennet pointed out that she cannot see not much difference between London and a country except the shops and public places.

"When I am in the country," said Mr Bingley, "I never wish to leave it; and when I am in the town it is pretty much the same."

"Ay - that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman," said Mrs Bennet looking at Darcy, "seemed to think that country was nothing at all."

"Indeed, mama, you are mistaken," said Elizabeth blushing, "Mr Darcy only meant that there there are not much variety of people in the country as in the town."

Mrs Bennet was trying to continue the discussion, when Elizabeth interrupted diverting her attention to Charlotte Lucas, one of her neighbour.

"Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir William is, Mr Bingley, is not he?  So much the man of fashion! So genteel is he!  He had always something to say to everybody.  That is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter."

"Did Charlotte dine with you?"

"No, she would go home.  For my part Mr Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work; my daughters are brought up very differently.  Lucases are very good girls.  It is a pity they are not handsome!  Not that I think Charlotte is very plain - but she is our particular friend."

"She seems a very pleasant young woman."

"Oh! dear, yes, but you must own she is very plain.  Lady Lucas herself often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane - one does not often see anybody better looking.  It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own partiality.  When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother Gardiner's in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make an offer before we came away.  However he did not.  Perhaps he thought her too young.  However he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were."

"And so ended the affection," said Elizabeth impatiently.  And there has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love."

"I think poetry is the food of love," said Darcy.

"Oh! a healthy love it may.  But of it be a slight inclination, one good sonnet will starve it entirely away."

Darcy only smiled. A general pause ensued.  Elizabeth trembled: her mother should be exposing herself again.  Mrs Bingley again repeated her thanks to Bingley and also apologized for troubling him with Lizzy.  Mr Bingley was sincere and civil in his answer. Miss Bingley was also civil, though without grace.  Mrs Bennet was satisfied and ordered her carriage.

Upon this signal the youngest of her daughters came forward to address Bingley on the subject of the ball which he had previously promised.

"I am perfectly ready," said Bingley, "to keep my promise when your sister is recovered."  Mrs Bennet and her daughters departed and Elizabeth instantly returned to Jane.

THE END