Chapter 12

           Inconsequenceofanagreementbetweenthesisters,Elizabethwrotethenextmorningtotheirmother,tobegthatthecarriagemightbesentfortheminthecourseoftheday. ButMrs.Bennet,whohadcalculatedonherdaughtersremainingatNetherfieldtillthefollowingTuesday,whichwouldexactlyfinishJane’sweek,couldnotbringherselftoreceivethemwithpleasurebefore. Heranswer,therefore,wasnotpropitious,atleastnottoElizabeth’swishes,forshewasimpatienttogethome. Mrs.BennetsentthemwordthattheycouldnotpossiblyhavethecarriagebeforeTuesday;andinherpostscriptitwasadded,thatifMr.Bingleyandhissisterpressedthemtostaylonger,shecouldsparethemverywell. Againststayinglonger,however,Elizabethwaspositivelyresolved—nordidshemuchexpectitwouldbeasked; andfearful,onthecontrary,asbeingconsideredasintrudingthemselvesneedlesslylong,sheurgedJanetoborrowMr.Bingley’scarriageimmediately,andatlengthitwassettledthattheiroriginaldesignofleavingNetherfieldthatmorningshouldbementioned,andtherequestmade. 

           Thecommunicationexcitedmanyprofessionsofconcern; andenoughwassaidofwishingthemtostayatleasttillthefollowingdaytoworkonJane; andtillthemorrowtheirgoingwasdeferred. MissBingleywasthensorrythatshehadproposedthedelay,forherjealousyanddislikeofonesistermuchexceededheraffectionfortheother. 

           Themasterofthehouseheardwithrealsorrowthattheyweretogososoon,andrepeatedlytriedtopersuadeMissBennetthatitwouldnotbesafeforher—thatshewasnotenoughrecovered; butJanewasfirmwhereshefeltherselftoberight.