inconsequenceofanagreementbetweenthesisters,elizabethwrotethenextmorningtohermother,tobegthatthecarriagemightbesentfortheminthecourseoftheday.butmrs.bennet,whohadcalculatedonherdaughtersremainingatnetherfieldtillthefollowingtuesday,whichwouldexactlyfinishjane'sweek,couldnotbringherselftoreceivethemwithpleasurebefore.heranswer,therefore,wasnotpropitious,atleastnottoelizabeth'swishes,forshewasimpatienttogethome.mrs.bennetsentthemwordthattheycouldnotpossiblyhavethecarriagebeforetuesday;andinherpostscriptitwasaddedthat,ifmr.bingleyandhissisterpressedthemtostaylonger,shecouldsparethemverywell.—againststayinglonger,however,elizabethwaspositivelyresolved—nordidshemuchexpectitwouldbeasked;andfearful,onthecontrary,asbeingconsideredasintrudingthemselvesneedlesslylong,sheurgedjanetoborrowmr.bingley'scarriageimmediately,andatlengthitwassettledthattheiroriginaldesignofleavingnetherfieldthatmorningshouldbementioned,andtherequestmade.

thecommunicationexcitedmanyprofessionsofconcern;andenoughwassaidofwishingthemtostayatleasttillthefollowingday,toworkonjane;andtillthemorrowtheirgoingwasdeferred.missbingleywasthensorrythatshehadproposedthedelay,forherjealousyanddislikeofonesistermuchexceededheraffectionfortheother.

themasterofthehouseheardwithrealsorrowthattheyweretogososoon,andrepeatedlytriedtopersuademissbennetthatitwouldnotbesafeforher—thatshewasnotenoughrecovered;butjanewasfirmwhereshefeltherselftoberight.

tomr.darcyitwaswelcomeintelligence—elizabethhadbeenatnetherfieldlongenough.sheattractedhimmorethanheliked—andmissbingleywasunciviltoher,andmoreteazingthanusualtohimself.hewiselyresolvedtobeparticularlycarefulthatnosignofadmirationshouldnowescapehim,nothingthatcouldelevateherwiththehopeofinfluencinghisfelicity;sensiblethatifsuchanideahadbeensuggested,hisbehaviourduringthelastdaymusthavematerialweightinconfirmingorcrushingit.steadytohispurpose,hescarcelyspoketenwordstoherthroughthewholeofsaturday,andthoughtheywereatonetimeleftbythemselvesforhalfanhour,headheredmostconscientiouslytohisbook,andwouldnotevenlookather.

onsunday,aftermorningservice,theseparation,soagreeabletoalmostall,tookplace.missbingley'scivilitytoelizabethincreasedatlastveryrapidly,aswellasheraffectionforjane;andwhentheyparted,afterassuringthelatterofthepleasureitwouldalwaysgivehertoseehereitheratlongbournornetherfield,andembracinghermosttenderly,sheevenshookhandswiththeformer.—elizabethtookleaveofthewholepartyintheliveliestspirits.

theywerenotwelcomedhomeverycordiallybytheirmother.mrs.bennetwonderedattheircoming,andthoughtthemverywrongtogivesomuchtrouble,andwassurejanewouldhavecaughtcoldagain.—buttheirfather,thoughverylaconicinhisexpressionsofpleasure,wasreallygladtoseethem;hehadfelttheirimportanceinthefamilycircle.theeveningconversation,whentheywereallassembled,hadlostmuchofitsanimation,andalmostallitssense,bytheabsenceofjaneandelizabeth.

theyfoundmary,asusual,deepinthestudyofthoroughbassandhumannature;andhadsomenewextractstoadmire,andsomenewobservationsofthread-baremoralitytolistento.catherineandlydiahadinformationforthemofadifferentsort.muchhadbeendoneandmuchhadbeensaidintheregimentsincetheprecedingwednesday;severaloftheofficershaddinedlatelywiththeiruncle,aprivatehadbeenflogged,andithadactuallybeenhintedthatcolonelforsterwasgoingtobemarried.