LITMIR.BIZ

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      Elizabeth stayed with Jane till late in the evening. When her sister fell asleep, it seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go downstairs. On entering the drawing-room she found the whole party at cards and was invited to join them. As she suspected that they were playing high, she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below, with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.

      «Do you prefer reading to cards?» said he, «that is rather singular».

      «Miss Eliza Bennet», said Miss Bingley, «is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else».

      «I deserve neither such praise nor such criticism», exclaimed Elizabeth; «I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things».

      «In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure», said Bingley; «and I hope the pleasure will soon increase by seeing her quite well».

      Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the table where a few books were lying. He offered to fetch her other books from his library and said he now wished his collection were larger.

      «But I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever looked into».

      Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.

      «What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!» Miss Bingley said.

      «It ought to be good», he replied, «it has been the work of many generations».

      «And you are always buying books».

      «I cannot understand the neglect of a family library at the time like this».

      «Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles, when you build your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley»

      «I wish it may».

      «And I think you should buy an estate in that neighborhood, and take Pemberley as a model. There is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire».

      «With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it».

      «I am talking of possibilities, Charles».

      «Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by imitation».

      Elizabeth got so interested in that conversation that she soon put her book aside and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his eldest sister, to watch the game.

      Miss Bingley asked Mr. Darcy about his sister and said that she was a most delightful girl, extremely accomplished for her age. She especially praised her performance on the pianoforte.

      Mr. Bingley, with his usual good humor, said that all young ladies were quite accomplished.

      «All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?» Miss Bingley exclaimed.

      «Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. And whenever a young lady is spoken of for the first time, they always inform you that she is very accomplished».

      «Yes, many women are called accomplished for no more than netting a purse or covering a screen», said Darcy, «but I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot say that I know more than half a dozen ladies, who are really accomplished».

      «Then», remarked Elizabeth, «there is a great deal more in your idea of an accomplished woman».

      «Yes, there is a great deal in it».

      «Oh! certainly», cried Miss Bingley, «an accomplished woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her appearance and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her speech and expressions, or the word will be just half-deserved».

      «And to all this», added Darcy, «she must also add something more important, she must improve her mind by extensive reading».

      «I must say I've never seen such a woman. I've never seen such capacity, and taste, and elegance, so united».

      Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both started protesting that they knew many women who answered this description, when Mr. Hurst reminded them that they were supposed to play cards. All conversation came to an end, and Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room.

      «Elizabeth Bennet», said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, «is one of those young ladies who like to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I must say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a shameful manoeuvre, a very mean stratagem».

      «Undoubtedly», replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, «there is meanness in all the stratagems which ladies sometimes employ in order to captivate. Whatever resembles cunning is disreputable».

      This reply didn't encourage Miss Bingley to continue the subject.

      Elizabeth came down to say that her sister was worse, and that she could not leave her. Bingley wanted to send for the doctor immediately; after some discussion it was decided that the doctor should be sent for early in the morning if Miss Bennet were not much better. Bingley felt great anxiety; his sisters announced that they were sorrowful. They consoled themselves, however, by duets after supper, while their brother's way to ease his anxiety was to give his housekeeper directions that every attention must be paid to the sick lady and her sister.

      Chapter 9

      In the morning Jane felt better, but Elizabeth asked to send a note to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgement of her condition. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.

      Had she found Jane in any real danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very unhappy. But she saw that her illness was not very serious; however, she didn't want Jane to leave Netherfield so soon. The doctor, who arrived about the same time, also thought that it wasn't at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss Bingley's invitation, the mother and three daughters all followed her into the breakfast room. Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected.

      «Indeed I have, sir», she answered. «She is a great deal too ill to be moved. The doctor says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness».

      Bingley assured her that Jane would stay at Netherfield until she was fit to travel. Miss Bingley, with cold politeness, also said that Miss Bennet would receive every possible attention while she stayed with them.

      Mrs. Bennet expressed her gratitude in many words.

      «I am sure», she added, «without such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers so much, though with the greatest patience in the world. She has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming view from the windows. No place in the neighborhood is equal to Netherfield. I hope, you will not think of leaving it in a hurry».

      «I do everything in a hurry», replied he; «I might leave Netherfield in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here».

      «That is just what I've supposed about you», said Elizabeth.

      «You begin to understand me, don't you?» cried he, turning towards her.

      «Oh! Yes. I understand you perfectly».

      «I wish I might take this for a compliment, but to be so easily seen through I am afraid isn't flattering».

      «But it does not mean that your character is less admirable than a deep, complex one».

      «Lizzy», cried her mother, «remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that we suffer from you at home».

      «The study of character must be amusing», Bingley said.

      «Yes,

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