Chapter 12

by Jane Austen

　　In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabethwrote the next morning to their mother, to beg that the carriagemight be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs.Bennet, who had calculated on her daughters remaining atNetherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exactlyfinish Jane's week, could not bring herself to receive them withpleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, atleast not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to gethome. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possiblyhave the carriage before Tuesday; and in her postscript it wasadded, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed them to staylonger, she could spare them very well. Against staying longer,however, Elizabeth was positively resolved-- nor did she muchexpect it would be asked; and fearful, on the contrary, as beingconsidered as intruding themselves needlessly long, she urgedJane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately, and atlength it was settled that their original design of leavingNetherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the requestmade.The communication excited many professions of concern; andenough was said of wishing them to stay at least till thefollowing day to work on Jane; and till the morrow their goingwas deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry that she hadproposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of one sistermuch exceeded her affection for the other.The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they wereto go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet thatit 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 beenat Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than heliked-- and Miss Bingley was uncivil to her, and more teasingthan usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be particularlycareful that no sign of admiration should now escape him,nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing hisfelicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, hisbehaviour during the last day must have material weight inconfirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcelyspoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, andthough they were at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour,he adhered most conscientiously to his book, and would noteven look at her.On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeableto almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabethincreased at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane;and when they parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure itwould always give her to see her either at Longbourn orNetherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, she even shookhands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole partyin the liveliest of spirits.They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother.Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them verywrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would havecaught cold again. But their father, though very laconic in hisexpressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felttheir 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-bassand human nature; and had some extracts to admire, and somenew observations of threadbare morality to listen to. Catherineand Lydia had information for them of a different sort. Muchhad been done and much had been said in the regiment since thepreceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined latelywith their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actuallybeen hinted that colonel Foster was going to be married.