answered this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order, with{52}

bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward. As all

conversation was thereby at an end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the

room.
“Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, “is

one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other

sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I daresay, it

succeeds; but, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art.”
“Undoubtedly,” replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed,

“there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend

to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is

despicable.”
Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to

continue the subject.
Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and

that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr. Jones’s being sent for

immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could

be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most

eminent physicians. This she would not hear of; but she was not so

unwilling to comply with their brother’s proposal; and it was settled

that Mr. Jones should be sent for early in the morning, if Miss Bennet

were not decidedly better. Bingley was quite uncomfortable; his sisters

declared that they were miserable. They solaced their wretchedness,

however, by duets after supper; while he could find no better relief to

his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every

possible attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister.{53}

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Mrs Bennet and her two youngest girls.


CHAPTER IX.

ELIZABETH passed the chief of the night in her sister’s room, and in the

morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the

inquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid,