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 daugh-
ters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exact-
ly 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 post-
script 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 them-
selves needlessly long, she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage im-
mediately, 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 in-
fluencing 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 assur-
ing 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 liveli-
est of spirits.
They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Ben-
net 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 con-
versation, 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 hu-
man 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.
