send her home."
"Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton, and the Hursts have no
horses to theirs."
"I had much rather go in the coach."
"But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are wanted in the farm, Mr.
Bennet, are they not?"
"They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them."
"But if you have got them to-day," said Elizabeth, "my mother's purpose will be answered."
She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were engaged. Jane was
therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many
cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before
it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued
the whole evening without intermission; Jane certainly could not some back.
"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" said Mrs. Bennet more than once, as if the credit of
making it rain were all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the
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felicity of her contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought
the following note for Elizabeth:
"MY DEAREST LIZZY,—
"I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet
through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning till I am better. They insist also
on my seeing Mr. Jones—therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to
me—and, excepting a sore throat and headache, there is not much the matter with me.—Yours,
etc."
"Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, "if your daughter
should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it
was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders."
"Oh! I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling colds. She will be taken good
care of. As long as she stays there, it is all very well. I would go an see her if I could have the
carriage."
Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the carriage was not to be
had; and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative. She declared her
resolution.
"How can you be so silly," cried her mother, "as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt! You will
not be fit to be seen when you get there."
"I shall be very fit to see Jane—which is all I want."
"Is this a hint to me, Lizzy," said her father, "to send for the horses?"
"No, indeed, I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing when one has a motive;
only three miles. I shall be back by dinner."
"I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Mary, "but every impulse of feeling should
be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is
required."
"We will go as far as Meryton with you," said Catherine and Lydia. Elizabeth accepted their
company, and the three young ladies set off together.
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"If we make haste," said Lydia, as they walked along, "perhaps we may see something of
Captain Carter before he goes."
In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives,
and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over
stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view
of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.
She was shown into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her
appearance created a great deal of surprise. That she should have walked three miles so early in
the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss
Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She was received,
however, very politely by them; and in their brother's manners there was something better than
politeness; there was good humour and kindness. Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst
nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had
given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The
latter was thinking only of his breakfast.
Her inquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and
though up, was very feverish, and not well enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be
taken to her immediately; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or
inconvenience from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted
at her entrance. She was not equal, however, to much conversation, and when Miss Bingley left
them together, could attempt little besides expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness
she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her.
When breakfast was over they were joined by the sisters; and Elizabeth began to like them
herself, when she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for Jane. The apothecary
came, and having examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent
cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; advised her to return to bed, and
promised her some draughts. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms
increased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment; nor were
the other ladies often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had, in fact, nothing to do elsewhere.
When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so. Miss
Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane
testified such concern in parting with her, that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of
24
the chaise to an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully
consented, and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay and
bring back a supply of clothes.
Chapter 8
At five o'clock the two ladies retired to dress, and at half-past six Elizabeth was summoned to
dinner. To the civil inquiries which then poured in, and amongst which she had the pleasure of
distinguishing the much superior solicitude of Mr. Bingley's, she could not make a very
favourable answer. Jane was by no means better. The sisters, on hearing this, repeated three or
four times how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how
excessively they disliked being ill themselves; and then thought no more of the matter: and their
indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them restored Elizabeth to the