Chapter 12 61
Chapter 12
In consequence of an agreement between the sisters , Elizabeth wrote the next morning to their mother , to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day . But Mrs . Bennet , who had calculated on her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday , which would exactly finish Jane ' s week , could not bring herself to receive them with pleasure before . Her answer , therefore , was not propitious , at least not to Elizabeth ' s wishes , for she was impatient to get home . Mrs . Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday ; and in her postscript it was added , that if Mr . Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay longer , she could spare them very well . Against staying longer , however , Elizabeth was positively resolved--nor did she much expect it would be asked ; and fearful , on the contrary , as being considered as intruding themselves needlessly long , she urged Jane to borrow Mr . Bingley ' s carriage immediately , and at length it was settled that their original design of leaving Netherfield that morning should be mentioned , and the request made .
The communication excited many professions of concern ; and enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day to work on Jane ; and till the morrow their going was deferred . Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay , for her jealousy and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other .
The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon , and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be safe for her--that she was not enough recovered ; but Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right .
To Mr . Darcy it was welcome intelligence--Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough . She attracted him more than he liked--and Miss Bingley was uncivil to her , and more teasing than usual to himself . He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him , nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity ; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested , his behaviour