Chapter 9 (Pride and Prejudice (Full Cast))

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 sisters.

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 daughters, 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.

16Indeed I have, sir, was her answer.

17She 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.

21Removed, cried Bingley.

22It must not be thought of.

23My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal.

24You may depend upon it, madam, said Miss Bingley with cold civility, that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she remains with us.

25Mrs.

26Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgements.

27I 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 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.

28I often tell my other girls that they are nothing to her.

29You have a sweet room here, Mr.

30Bingley, and a charming prospect over the gravel walk.

31I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield.

32You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease.

33Whatever 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.

34At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here.

35That is exactly what I should have supposed of you, said Elizabeth.

36You begin to comprehend me, do you?

37cried he, turning towards her.

38Oh, yes, I understand you perfectly.

39I wish I might take this for a compliment, but to be so easily seen through, I am afraid, is pitiful.

40That is as it happens.

41It does not follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours.

42Lizzy!

43cried her mother.

44Remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home.

45I did not know before, continued Bingley immediately, that she were a studier of character.

46It must be an amusing study.

47Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing.

48They have at least that advantage.

49The country, said Darcy, can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study.

50In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.

51But people themselves alter so much that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.

52Yes, indeed!

53cried Mrs.

54Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood.

55I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town.

56Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away.

57Mrs.

58Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph.

59I cannot say that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places.

60The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr.

61Bingley?

62When I am in the country, he replied, I never wish to leave it, and when I am in town it is pretty much the same.

63They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.

64Aye, that is because you have the right disposition.

65But that gentleman, looking at Darcy, seemed to think the country was nothing at all.

66Indeed, Mama, you are mistaken, said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother.

67You quite mistook Mr.

68Darcy.

69He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, which you must acknowledge to be true.

70Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were, but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger.

71I know we dine with four and twenty families.

72Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance.

73His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr.

74Darcy with a very expressive smile.

75Elizabeth, 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.

76Yes, she called yesterday with her father.

77What an agreeable man Sir William is, Mr.

78Bingley, is not he?

79So much the man of fashion, so genteel and easy.

80He had always something to say to everybody.

81That is my idea of good breeding.

82And those persons who fancy themselves very important and never open their mouths, quite a mistake, the matter.

83Did Charlotte dine with you?

84No, she would go home.

85I fancy she was wanted about the mince pies.

86For my part, Mr.

87Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work.

88My daughters are brought up very differently.

89But everybody is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you.

90It is a pity they are not handsome.

91Not that I think Charlotte is so very plain, but then she is our particular friend.

92She seems a very pleasant young woman.

93Oh, dear, yes, but you must own she is very plain.

94Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty.

95I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane, one does not often see anybody better looking.

96It is what everybody says.

97I do not trust my own partiality.

98When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother gardener'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.

99But, however, he did not.

100Perhaps he thought her too young.

101However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were.

102And so ended his affection, said Elizabeth impatiently.

103There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way.

104I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love.

105I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love, said Darcy.

106Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may.

107Everything nourishes what is strong already.

108But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.

109Darcy only smiled, and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again.

110She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say, and after a short silence, Mrs.

111Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr.

112Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy.

113Mr.

114Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occasion required.

115She performed her part, indeed, without much graciousness, but Mrs.

116Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage.

117Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward.

118The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was that the youngest should tax Mr.

119Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at Netherfield.

120Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance.

121A favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age.

122She 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.

123She was very equal, therefore, to address Mr.

124Bingley 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.

125His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to their mother's ear.

126I 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.

127But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill.

128Lydia declared herself satisfied.

129Oh, yes, it would be much better to wait till Jane was well, and by that time, most likely Captain Carter would be at Meriton again.

130And when you have given your ball, she added, I shall insist on their giving one also.

131I shall tell Captain Forster it would be quite a shame if he does not.

132Mrs.

133Bennet 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.

134Darcy, 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.

135End of chapter 9