Chapter 47 275
he might afterwards persuade her to , it was not on her side a scheme of infamy . My poor father ! how he must have felt it !"
" I never saw anyone so shocked . He could not speak a word for full ten minutes . My mother was taken ill immediately , and the whole house in such confusion !"
" Oh ! Jane ," cried Elizabeth , " was there a servant belonging to it who did not know the whole story before the end of the day ?"
" I do not know . I hope there was . But to be guarded at such a time is very difficult . My mother was in hysterics , and though I endeavoured to give her every assistance in my power , I am afraid I did not do so much as I might have done ! But the horror of what might possibly happen almost took from me my faculties ."
" Your attendance upon her has been too much for you . You do not look well . Oh that I had been with you ! you have had every care and anxiety upon yourself alone ."
" Mary and Kitty have been very kind , and would have shared in every fatigue , I am sure ; but I did not think it right for either of them . Kitty is slight and delicate ; and Mary studies so much , that her hours of repose should not be broken in on . My aunt Phillips came to Longbourn on Tuesday , after my father went away ; and was so good as to stay till Thursday with me . She was of great use and comfort to us all . And Lady Lucas has been very kind ; she walked here on Wednesday morning to condole with us , and offered her services , or any of her daughters ', if they should be of use to us ."
" She had better have stayed at home ," cried Elizabeth ; " perhaps she meant well , but , under such a misfortune as this , one cannot see too little of one ' s neighbours . Assistance is impossible ; condolence insufferable . Let them triumph over us at a distance , and be satisfied ."