at least it shows that she was serious in the object of her journey.

Whatever 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{358} 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 Philips 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 could 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.”
She then proceeded to inquire into the measures which her father had

intended to pursue, while in town, for the recovery of his daughter.