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."