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Chapter IX

Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's

room, and in the morning had the pleasure of being

able to send a tolerable answer to the inquiries which

she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a house-

maid, and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies

who waited on his sisters. In spite of this amendment, how-

ever, she requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, desiring

her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgment of her

situation. The note was immediately despatched, and its con-

tents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied

by her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after

the family breakfast.

Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet

would have been very miserable; but being satisfied on see-

ing her that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of

her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would

probably remove her from Netherfield. She would not

listen, therefore, to her daughter's proposal of being carried

home; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same

time, think it at all advisable. After sitting a little while

with Jane, on Miss Bingley's appearance and invitation, the

mother and three daughters all attended her into the break-

fast parlour. Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs. Bennet

had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected.

'Indeed I have, sir,' was her answer. 'She is a great deal

too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of

moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kind-

ness.'

'Removed!' cried Bingley. 'It must not be thought of.

My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal.'

'You may depend upon it, madam,' said Miss Bingley, with

cold civility, 'that Miss Bennet shall receive every possible

attention while she remains with us.'

Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments.

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