Page 25 of Pride, Prejudice & Wicked Pleasure

But Darcy could not be vexed with the situation for the following morning brought Miss Elizabeth to Netherfield to inquire after her sister. He remembered the surprise her appearance, with her dirty stockings and her face glowing from the warmth of exercise, had engendered among those gathered in the breakfast-parlor.

That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Louisa and Caroline. They could not hide all their contempt but received her politely. Bingley was good humour and kindness. Darcy said little, being divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone.

Her inquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish, and not well enough to leave her room. Miss Elizabeth seemed glad to be taken to her immediately. The apothecary came and pronounced his patient to suffer from a violent cold. Miss Elizabeth stayed by her sister’s side for the day, and when it seemed her departure would cause Miss Bennet much concern, Bingley was obliged to convert his offer of his chaise to an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present.

Dinner with Miss Elizabeth had passed with some awkwardness. Bingley, quite anxious for Miss Bennet’s health, bestowed his attentions upon her most amply. Caroline and Louisa said but a few words to her; and Mr. Hurst, Louisa’s husband, an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards, had nothing to say to her when he found her to prefer a plain dish to a ragout.

When dinner was over, Miss Elizabeth returned directly to her sister, and Caroline began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room. Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence. She had no conversation, no style, no beauty.

Louisa thought the same, and added, "She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.”

"She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!"

"Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office."

"Your picture may be very exact, Louisa," said Bingley; "but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice."

"You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure," said Miss Bingley; "and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition."

"Certainly not," he said.

"To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum."

"It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing," said Bingley.

"I am afraid, Mr. Darcy," observed Caroline in a half whisper, "that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes."

"Not at all," he replied, "they were brightened by the exercise."

A short pause followed this speech, and Louisa began again, "I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it."

"I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton."

"Yes, and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside."

"That is capital," added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.

"If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside," cried Bingley, "it would not make them one jot less agreeable."

"But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world," replied Darcy.

To this speech Bingley made no answer, but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of their dear friend's vulgar relations.

With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room on leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee. Miss Bennet was still very poorly, and Miss Elizabeth would not quit her at all, till late in the evening after she had the comfort of seeing her sleep. The whole party was at loo when she entered the drawing-room and was invited to join them. She declined and, making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below, with a book. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.

“Do you prefer reading to cards?" said he, "that is rather singular."

"Miss Eliza Bennet," said Miss Bingley, "despises cards. She is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else."

"I deserve neither such praise nor such censure," cried Miss Elizabeth, "I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things."

"In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure," said Bingley; "and I hope it will be soon increased by seeing her quite well."

She thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the table where a few books were lying. He immediately offered to fetch her others—all that his library afforded.

"And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit, but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever looked into."

She assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.