A Simplified Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 12

Due to an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote to her mother the next morning and ask for the carriage to be sent to bring them home. But Mrs. Bennet had hoped her daughters would remain at Netherfield till the next Tuesday, giving Jane an entire week in the house. Mrs. Bennet could not bring herself to bring them home. Her answer, therefore, was disappointing, for Elizabeth was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet wrote that the carriage would not be available before Tuesday, and added that if Mr. Bingley and his sisters wanted them to stay longer she would be happy to let them stay. But Elizabeth was fully determined to go home, and she did not expect an invitation to stay. She believed they were outstaying their welcome, and urged Jane to ask to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage. It was decided Jane would in the morning at breakfast.

Bingley responded to the request with much concern, and he convinced her to stay at least to the next day. Miss Bingley was then sorry she had suggested their stay, for her jealousy and dislike of one sister, was far greater than her affection for the other. Bingley heard with real sorrow that the Bennets were leaving soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Jane that it might not be safe for her to travel, that she wasn't well enough. But Jane was firm when she thought she was right.

To Mr. Darcy, the news of the ladies leaving was good news. Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked, Miss Bingley was very rude to her and more teasing to himself. He wisely decided to be very careful no sign of admiration would escape him. He would do nothing to give her the hope of exciting his happiness; aware that if this idea had been implied, his behavior in this final day would either confirm or crush it. Steady to his plan, he hardly spoke ten words to her all Saturday. Even though they were once left by themselves a whole half hour, he stuck to his book, and would not even look at her.

On Sunday after church, the separation, which was welcomed by almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's manners to Elizabeth and affection towards Jane increased very quickly when they parted, after assuring Jane of the pleasure it would be to see her at Longborne or Netherfield again, and giving Jane a tender hug, she even shook hands with Eliza. Eliza left the group in the liveliest of spirits

They were not welcomed home very politely by their mother. Mrs. Bennet was upset by their coming home, and thought it was wrong of them to cause inconvenience in borrowing a carriage. She was sure Jane would catch a cold again. But their father, though brief in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them. He had realized their importance in the family circle, the evening conversations had lost much of its liveliness and almost all of its sense without them.

They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of musical notation and human nature. They had some quotes to admire and new observations of threadbare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different kind. Much had been done and said in the regiment since Wednesday. Several of the officers had dined with the girls' uncle, a private had been flogged, and it has been hinted that Colonel Foster was going to be married