Chapter 9

by Jane Austen

　　Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, andin the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerableanswer to the inquiries which she very early received from Mr.Bingley by a housemaid, and some time afterwards from the twoelegant ladies who waited on his sisters. In spite of thisamendment, however, she requested to have a note sent toLongbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her ownjudgement of her situation. The note was immediatelydispatched, and its contents as quickly complied with. Mrs.Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, reachedNetherfield soon after the family breakfast.Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet wouldhave been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her thather illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recoveringimmediately, as her restoration to health would probably removeher from Netherfield. She would not listen, therefore, to herdaughter's proposal of being carried home; neither did theapothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at alladvisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on MissBingley's appearance and invitation, the mother and threedaughter all attended her into the breakfast parlour. Bingley metthem with hopes that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennetworse than she expected."Indeed I have, sir," was her answer. "She is a great deal too illto be moved. Mr. Jones says 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. Mysister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal.""You may depend upon it, madam," said Miss Bingley, with coldcivility, "that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attentionwhile she remains with us."Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgements."I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I donot know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed,and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in theworld, which is always the way with her, for she has, withoutexception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with. I often tellmy other girls they are nothing to her. You have a sweet roomhere, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over the gravelwalk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal toNetherfield. 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 therefore if Ishould resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off infive minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quitefixed here.""That is exactly what I should have supposed of you," saidElizabeth."You begin to comprehend me, do you?" cried he, turningtowards her."Oh! yes-- I understand you perfectly.""I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easilyseen through I am afraid is pitiful.""That is as it happens. It does not follow that a deep, intricatecharacter is more or less estimable than such a one as yours.""Lizzy," cried her mother, "remember where you are, and do notrun on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home.""I did not know before," continued Bingley immediately, "thatyour were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study.""Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing. Theyhave at least that advantage.""The country," said Darcy, "can in general supply but a fewsubjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you movein a very confined and unvarying society.""But people themselves alter so much, that there is somethingnew to be observed in them for ever.""Yes, indeed," cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner ofmentioning a country neighbourhood. "I assure you there isquite as much of that going on in the country as in town."Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for amoment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied shehad gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph."I cannot see that London has any great advantage over thecountry, for my part, except the shops and public places. Thecountry is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?""When 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. They haveeach their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.""Aye-- that is because you have the right disposition. But thatgentleman," looking at Darcy, "seemed to think the country wasnothing at all.""Indeed, mamma, you are mistaken," said Elizabeth, blushing forher mother. "You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant thatthere was not such a variety of people to be met with in thecountry as in the town, which you must acknowledge to betrue.""Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to notmeeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe thereare few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine withfour-and-twenty families."Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keephis countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed hereyes towards Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth,for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother'sthoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been atLongbourn since her coming away."Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeableman Sir William is, Mr. Bingley, is not he? So much the man offashion! So genteel and easy! He had always something to sayto everybody. That is my idea of good breeding; and thosepersons who fancy themselves very important, and never opentheir mouths, quite mistake the matter.""Did Charlotte dine with you?""No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted aboutmince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servantsthat can do their own work; my daughters are brought up verydifferently. But everybody is to judge for themselves, and theLucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pitythey are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte so veryplain-- but then she is our particular friend.""She seems a very pleasant young woman.""Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucasherself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do notlike to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane-- one doesnot 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 inlove with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make heran offer before we came away. But, however, he did not.Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote someverses on her, and very pretty they were.""And so ended his affection," said Elizabeth impatiently. "Therehas been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. Iwonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in drivingaway love!""I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love," saidDarcy."Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourisheswhat is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort ofinclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve itentirely away."Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued madeElizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herselfagain. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say;and after a short silence Mrs. Bennet began repeating her thanksto Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology fortroubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedlycivil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also,and say what the occasion required. She performed her partindeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet wassatisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon thissignal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. Thetwo girls had been whispering to each other during the wholevisit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Mr.Bingley with having promised on his first coming into thecountry to give a ball at Netherfield.Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a finecomplexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite withher mother, whose affection had brought her into public at anearly age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of naturalself-consequence, which the attention of the officers, to whomher uncle's good dinners, and her own easy manners recommendedher, had increased into assurance. She was very equal,therefore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, andabruptly reminded him that it would be the most shameful thingin the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this suddenattack was delightful to her mother's ear:"I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; andwhen your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name thevery day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancingwhen she is ill."Lydia declared herself satisfied. "Oh! yes-- it would be muchbetter to wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likelyCaptain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you havegiven your ball," she added, "I shall insist on their giving onealso. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if hedoes not."Mrs. Bennet and her daughter then departed, and Elizabethreturned instantly to Jane, leaving her own and her relations'behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy; thelatter of whom, however, could not be prevailed on to join intheir censure of her, in spite of all Miss Bingley's witticisms onfine eyes.