Chapter 09 (Pride and Prejudice)

01CHAPTER IX.

02Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the inquiries which she very early received from Mr.

03Bingley by a housemaid, and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sister's.

04In spite of this amendment, however, she requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgment of her situation.

05The note was immediately dispatched, and its contents as quickly complied with.

06Mrs.

07Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.

08Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs.

09Bennet would have been very miserable.

10But being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield.

11She would not listen, therefore, to her daughter's proposal of being carried home.

12Neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at all advisable.

13After sitting a little while with Jane on Miss Bingley's appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughters all attended her into the breakfast-parlour.

14Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs.

15Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected.

16"'Indeed I have, sir,' was her answer.

17"'She is a great deal too ill to be moved.

18Mr.

19Jones says we must not think of moving her.

20We must trespass a little longer on your kindness.' "'Removed?' cried Bingley.

21"'It must not be thought of.

22My sister, I am sure, 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.

23Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments.

24"'I am sure,' she added, "'if it were 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 the 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.

25I often tell my other girls that they are nothing to her.

26"'You have a sweet room here, Mr.

27Bingley, and a charming prospect over the gravel walk.

28I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield.

29You 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 therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes.

30At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here.' "'That is exactly what I should have supposed of you,' said Elizabeth.

31"'You begin to comprehend me, do you?' cried he, turning towards her.

32"'Oh, yes, I understand you perfectly.' "'I wish I might take this for a compliment, but to be so easily seen through, I am afraid, it is pitiful.' "'That is as it happens.

33It does not follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours.' "'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.' "'I did not know before,' continued Bingley immediately, "'that you are a studier of character.

34It must be an amusing study.' "'Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing.

35They have at least that advantage.' "'The country,' said Darcy, "'can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study.

36In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.' "'But people themselves alter so much that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.' "'Yes, indeed!' cried Mrs.

37Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood.

38"'I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town.' Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away.

39Mrs.

40Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph.

41"'I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places.

42The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr.

43Bingley?' "'When I am in the country,' he replied, "'I never wish to leave it.

44And when I am in town it is pretty much the same.

45They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.' "'Aye, that is because you have the right disposition.

46But that gentleman,' looking at Darcy, "'seemed to think the country was nothing at all.' "'Indeed, mamma, you are mistaken,' said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother.

47"'You quite mistook Mr.

48Darcy.

49He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in town, which you must acknowledge to be true.' "'Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were.

50But as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger.

51I know we dine with four-and-twenty families.' Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance.

52His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr.

53Darcy with a very expressive smile.

54Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother's thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away.

55"'Yes.

56She called yesterday with her father.

57What an agreeable man Sir William is, Mr.

58Bingley, is he not?

59So much the man of fashion, so genteel and easy.

60He had always something to say to everybody.

61That is my idea of good breeding.

62And those persons who fancy themselves very important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter.' "'Did Charlotte dine with you?' "'No.

63She would go home.

64I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies.

65For my part, Mr.

66Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work.

67My daughters are brought up very differently.

68But everybody is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you.

69It is a pity they are not handsome.

70Not that I think Charlotte so very plain, but then she is our particular friend.' "'She seems a very pleasant young woman.' "'Oh, dear, yes.

71But you must own she is very plain.

72Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty.

73I do not like to boast of my own child.

74But to be sure, Jane, one does not see often anybody better looking.

75It is what everybody says.

76I do not trust my own partiality.

77When 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 her an offer before we came away.

78But however, he did not.

79Perhaps he thought her too young.

80However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were.' "'And so ended his affection,' said Elizabeth impatiently.

81"'There has been many one, I fancy, overcome in the same way.

82I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love?' "'I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love,' said Darcy.

83"'Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may.

84Every thing nourishes what is strong already.

85But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.' Darcy only smiled, and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again.

86She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say, and after a short silence Mrs.

87Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr.

88Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy.

89Mr.

90Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occasion required.

91She performed her part indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs.

92Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage.

93Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward.

94The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Mr.

95Bingley with having promised, on his first coming into the county, to give a ball at Netherfield.

96Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance, a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age.

97She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the officers, to whom her uncle's good dinners and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance.

98She was very equal, therefore, to address Mr.

99Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise, adding that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it.

100His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to their mother's ear.

101"'I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement, and when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball.

102But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill.' Lydia declared herself satisfied.

103"'Oh, yes, it would be much better to wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again.

104And when you have given your ball,' she added, "'I shall insist on their giving one also.

105I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.' Mrs.

106Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relation's behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr.

107Darcy, the latter of whom, however, could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her, in spite of all Miss Bingley's witticisms on fine eyes.

108End of chapter 9