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obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into 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。
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CHAPTER VIII
t five o’clock the two ladies retired to dress； and at half
Apast six Elizabeth was summoned to dinner。 To the civil
enquiries 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 enjoyment of all her original dislike。
Their brother； indeed； was the only one of the party whom she
could regard with any complacency。 His anxiety for Jane was
evident； and his attentions to herself most pleasing； and they
prevented her feeling herself so much an intruder as she believed
she was considered by the others。 She had very little notice from
any but him。 Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr。 Darcy； her sister
scarcely less so； and as for Mr。 Hurst； by whom Elizabeth sat； he
was an indolent man； who lived only to eat； drink； and play at
cards； who when he found her prefer a plain dish to a ragout； had
nothing to say to her。
When dinner was over； she returned directly to Jane； and Miss
Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room。 Her
manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed； a mixture of
pride and impertinence； she had no conversation； no stile； no taste；
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no beauty。 Mrs。 Hurst thought the same； and added；
‘She has nothing； in short； to recommend her； but being an
excellent walker。 I shall never forget her appearance this morning。
She really looked almost wild。’
‘She did indeed； Louisa。 I could hardly keep my countenance。
Very nonsensical to come at all！ Why must she be scampering
about the country； because her sister had a cold？ Her hair so
untidy； so blowsy！’
‘Yes； and her petticoat； I hope you saw her petticoat； six inches
deep in mud； I am absolutely certain； and the gown which had
been let down to hide it； not doing its office。’
‘Your picture may be very exact； Louisa；’ said Bingley； ‘but this
was all lost upon me。 I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked
remarkably well； when she came into the room this morning。 Her
dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice。’
‘You observed it； Mr。 Darcy； I am sure；’ said Miss Bingley； ‘and I
am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister
make such an exhibition。’
‘Certainly not。’
‘To walk three miles； or four miles； or five miles； or whatever it
is； above her ancles in dirt； and alone； quite alone！—what could she
mean by it？ It seems to me to shew an abominable sort of
conceited independence； a most country town indifference to
decorum。’
‘It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing；’ said
Bingley。
‘I am afraid； Mr。 Darcy；’ observed Miss Bingley； in a half
whisper； ‘that this adventure has rather affected your admiration
of her fine eyes。’
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‘Not at all；’ he replied； ‘they were brightened by the exercise。’—
A short pause followed this speech； and Mrs。 Hurst began again。
‘I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet； she is really a very
sweet girl； and I wish with all my heart she were well settled。 But
with such a father and mother； and such low connections； I am
afraid there is no chance of it。’
‘I think I have heard you say； that their uncle is an attorney in
Meryton。’
‘Yes； and they have another； who lives somewhere near
Cheapside。’
‘That is capital；’ added her sister； and they both laughed
heartily。
‘If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside；’ cried Bingley； ‘it
would not make them one jot less agreeable。’
‘But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying
men of any consideration in the world；’ replied Darcy。
To this speech Bingley made no answer； but his sisters gave it
their hearty assent； and indulged their mirth for some time at the
expense of their dear friend’s vulgar relations。
With a renewal of tenderness； however； they repaired to her
room on leaving the dining…parlour； and sat with her till
summoned to coffee。 She was still very poorly； and Elizabeth
would not quit her at all； till late in the evening； when she had the
comfort of seeing her asleep； and when it appeared to her rather
right than pleasant that she should go down stairs herself。 On
entering the drawing…room she found the whole party at loo； and
was immediately invited to join them； but suspecting them to be
playing high she declined it； and making her sister the excuse； said
she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below
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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； ‘despises cards。 She is a
great reader and has no pleasure in anything else。’
‘I deserve neither such praise nor such censure；’ cried
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 it will soon be increased by seeing her quite
well。’
Elizabeth thanked him from her heart； and then walked towards
a table where a few books were lying。 He immediately offered to
fetch her others； all that his library afforded。
‘And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my
own credit； but I am an idle fellow； and though I have not many； I
have more than I ever look into。’
Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with
those in the room。
‘I am astonished；’ said Miss Bingley； ‘that my father should have
left so small a collection of books。—What a delightful library you
have at Pemberley； Mr。 Darcy！’
‘It ought to be good；’ he replied； ‘it has been the work of many
generations。’
‘And then you have added so much to it yourself； you are always
buying books。’
‘I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such
days as these。’
‘Neglect！ I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the
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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。’
‘But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that
neighbourhood； and take Pemberley for a kind of model