In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth
wrote the next morning to their mother, to beg that the carriage might
be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had
calculated on her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following
Tuesday, which would exactly finish Jane's week, could not bring herself
to receive them with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not
propitious, at least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to
get home. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have
the carriage before Tuesday; and in her postscript it was added, that if
Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay longer, she could spare
them very well. Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was
positively resolved--nor did she much expect it would be asked; and
fearful, on the contrary, as being considered as intruding themselves
needlessly long, she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage
immediately, and at length it was settled that their original design of
leaving Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the request
made.
The communication excited many professions of concern; and
enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day
to work on Jane; and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss
Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy
and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other.
The
master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so
soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it 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 been at Netherfield long enough. She
attracted him more than he liked--and Miss Bingley was uncivil to _her_,
and more teasing than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be
particularly careful that no sign of admiration should _now_ escape him,
nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his
felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, his
behaviour during the last day must have material weight in confirming or
crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words to her
through the whole of Saturday, and though they were at one time left by
themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered most conscientiously to his
book, and would not even look at her.
On Sunday, after morning
service, the separation, so agreeable to almost all, took place. Miss
Bingley's civility to Elizabeth increased at last very rapidly, as well
as her affection for Jane; and when they parted, after assuring the
latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see her either at
Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, she even
shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in
the liveliest of spirits.
They were not welcomed home very
cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and
thought them very wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would
have caught cold again. But their father, though very laconic in his
expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their
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-bass and human nature; and had some
extracts to admire, and some new observations of threadbare morality to
listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different
sort. Much had been done and much had been said in the regiment since
the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined lately with
their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actually been hinted
that Colonel Forster was going to be married. _