elizabethpassedthechiefofthenightinhersister'sroom,andinthemorninghadthepleasureofbeingabletosendatolerableanswertotheenquirieswhichsheveryearlyreceivedfrommr.bingleybyahousemaid,andsometimeafterwardsfromthetwoelegantladieswhowaitedonhissisters.inspiteofthisamendment,however,sherequestedtohaveanotesenttolongbourn,desiringhermothertovisitjane,andformherownjudgmentofhersituation.thenotewasimmediatelydispatched,anditscontentsasquicklycompliedwith.mrs.bennet,accompaniedbyhertwoyoungestgirls,reachednetherfieldsoonafterthefamilybreakfast.

hadshefoundjaneinanyapparentdanger,mrs.bennetwouldhavebeenverymiserable;butbeingsatisfiedonseeingher,thatherillnesswasnotalarming,shehadnowishofherrecoveringimmediately,asherrestorationtohealthwouldprobablyremoveherfromnetherfield.shewouldnotlistenthereforetoherdaughter'sproposalofbeingcarriedhome;neitherdidtheapothecary,whoarrivedaboutthesametime,thinkitatalladvisable.aftersittingalittlewhilewithjane,onmissbingley'sappearanceandinvitationthemotherandthreedaughtersallattendedherintothebreakfastparlour.bingleymetthemwithhopesthatmrs.bennethadnotfoundmissbennetworsethansheexpected.

"indeedihave,sir,"washeranswer."sheisagreatdealtooilltobemoved.mr.jonessayswemustnotthinkofmovingher.wemusttrespassalittlelongeronyourkindness."

"removed!"criedbingley."itmustnotbethoughtof.mysister,iamsure,willnothearofherremoval."

"youmaydependuponit,madam,"saidmissbingley,withcoldcivility,"thatmissbennetshallreceiveeverypossibleattentionwhilesheremainswithus."

mrs.bennetwasprofuseinheracknowledgments.

"iamsure,"sheadded,"ifitwasnotforsuchgoodfriendsidonotknowwhatwouldbecomeofher,forsheisveryillindeed,andsuffersavastdeal,thoughwiththegreatestpatienceintheworld—whichisalwaysthewaywithher,forshehas,withoutexception,thesweetesttemperievermetwith.ioftentellmyothergirlstheyarenothingtoher.youhaveasweetroomhere,mr.bingley,andacharmingprospectoverthatgravelwalk.idonotknowaplaceinthecountrythatisequaltonetherfield.youwillnotthinkofquittingitinahurryihope,thoughyouhavebutashortlease."

"whateveridoisdoneinahurry,"repliedhe;"andthereforeifishouldresolvetoquitnetherfield,ishouldprobablybeoffinfiveminutes.atpresent,however,iconsidermyselfasquitefixedhere."

"thatisexactlywhatishouldhavesupposedofyou,"saidelizabeth.

"youbegintocomprehendme,doyou?"criedhe,turningtowardsher.

"oh!yes—iunderstandyouperfectly."

"iwishimighttakethisforacompliment;buttobesoeasilyseenthroughiamafraidispitiful."

"thatisasithappens.itdoesnotnecessarilyfollowthatadeep,intricatecharacterismoreorlessestimablethansuchaoneasyours."

"lizzy,"criedhermother,"rememberwhereyouare,anddonotrunoninthewildmannerthatyouaresufferedtodoathome."

"ididnotknowbefore,"continuedbingleyimmediately,"thatyouwereastudierofcharacter.itmustbeanamusingstudy."

"yes;butintricatecharactersarethemostamusing.theyhaveatleastthatadvantage."

"thecountry,"saiddarcy,"caningeneralsupplybutfewsubjectsforsuchastudy.inacountryneighbourhoodyoumoveinaveryconfinedandunvaryingsociety."

"butpeoplethemselvesaltersomuch,thatthereissomethingnewtobeobservedinthemforever."

"yes,indeed,"criedmrs.bennet,offendedbyhismannerofmentioningacountryneighbourhood."iassureyouthereisquiteasmuchofthatgoingoninthecountryasintown."

everybodywassurprised;anddarcy,afterlookingatherforamoment,turnedsilentlyaway.mrs.bennet,whofanciedshehadgainedacompletevictoryoverhim,continuedhertriumph.